NOMINATIVE In a nominal sentence a linking verb (copula) connects a S in the Nominative with a Predicate Nominative. 2

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1 Use of Nominative and Accusative, p a: USES OF THE CASES: NOMINATIVE AND ACCUSATIVE 1 The basic sentence or clause has as its core a verb, at least implicit. We have classifed verbs into two large classes: LINKING TRANSITIVE OR INTRANSITIVE (sometimes called predicative verbs ) Which cases do we need to recognize in order to understand or write even the simplest Greek sentences? If we limit ourselves to verbs that represent a small percentage in any language, i.e. linking verbs ( to be and the like) we may manage with just the NOMINATIVE In a nominal sentence a linking verb (copula) connects a S in the Nominative with a Predicate Nominative. 2 S and PN may be interchangeable, obtaining an almost identical meaning: A = B or B = A. You have now accumulated a respectable vocabulary of linking verbs, among them: to become, come to be γί(γ)νοµαι to seem, appear δοκέω > ῶ Examples: οἱ λίθοι ἄρτοι γίνονται Rocks become loaves. [Μatthew 4] οὐ δοκεῖν ἄριστος ἀλλ εἶναι θέλει He does not wish to seem, but to be excellent. [Αeschylus, Seven against Thebes 592]

2 Use of Nominative and Accusative, p 2 some transitive verbs, used in the passive voice, take a PN, e.g.: to be called καλέοµαι > καλοῦµαι (the passive of καλέω > ῶ) to be considered νοµίζοµαι (the passive of νοµίζω) to be appointed, made ἵσταµαι (the passive of ἵστηµι) to seem, appear φαίνοµαι (the passive of φαίνω) Examples: νοµίζονται µὲν υἱεῖς (= υἱοί), οὐ δέ εἰσιν They are deemed sons, but they are not. [adapted, Demosthenes, Speeches As soon as we started adding even the smallest sample of other kinds of verbs, already in Lesson 1, you learned the ACCUSATIVE Its uses may be summarized as follows. a) DIRECT OBJECT of a transitive verb (even one that is not transitive in English, mind you!). We have found innumerable examples in our readings. Furthermore, a preverb (a preposition placed in front) may make an intransitive verb transitive: Ex. διέβησαν τὴν θάλασσαν they crossed the sea b) DOUBLE ACCUSATIVE, in various combinations. 1) Two DIRECT OBJECTS (person / thing; whole / part, etc) τίς ἡµᾶς διδάξει τὴν τοῦ ποιητοῦ τέχνην; Who will teach us the poet s art?

3 Use of Nominative and Accusative, p 3 2) A DIRECT OBJECT and a PREDICATE ACCUSATIVE: the PREDICATE ACCUSATIVE is thrown upon the direct object through the mediation of a transitive verb. τούτους οὖν φύλακας στησόµεθα Plato, Republic 484d We will set them as guardians σὺ Ἔρωτα οὐ θεὸν νοµίζεις Plato, Symposium 202d You do not deem Eros a god. εἰς τοὺς Ἕλληνας σαυτὸν σοφιστὴν παρέχεις (adapted) Plat. Protagoras 312a You present yourself to the Greeks as a sophist 3) SUBJECT or PREDICATE ACCUSATIVE with a verb in the INFINITIVE (may be considered an expansion of the structure above) τὸν γὰρ καλὸν κἀγαθὸν ἄνδρα εὐδαίµονα εἶναί φηµι Plat. Gorgias. 470e For I say that the noble man is happy. There are other uses of the Accusative that we may lump together as adverbial, using the term loosely. In many of these usages we can recognize a common element (which perhaps is also a component of the function of the Accusative denoting direct objects): it shows direction. c) ADVERBIAL USES OF THE ACCUSATIVE BY ITSELF, THE ACCUSATIVE may denote: extent in space and time (duration) συµµαχίαν ἐποιήσαντο ἑκατὸν ἔτη Thuc They made an alliance lasting a hundred years

4 Use of Nominative and Accusative, p 4 limited extent of application of the content of a verb, adjective, etc.: accusative of respect τυφλὸς τά τ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τ ὄµµατ εἶ Soph OT 371 You are blind in ears, and mind, and eyes WITH PREPOSITIONS. Prepositional phrases are usually adverbial, but the very fact that some prepositions may be used with more than one case shows that it is the case that is mainly responsible for the meaning. Prepositions With the accusative only ἀνά + acc = (motion) up, along ἐς, εἰς + acc = (motion) to, towards, into Also used with other cases διά + Acc = on account of ἐπί + Acc = (motion) onto, towards, against κατά + acc = (motion) down (a road, the river) µετά + acc = after παρά + Acc = (motion) to (the side of), towards περί + Acc = around πρός + Acc = (motion) to, towards ὑπέρ + Acc = (motion) over and above ὑπό + acc = (motion) toward the foot or base of (a tree, a mountain)

5 Use of Nominative and Accusative, p 5 MORE on the ACCUSATIVE in Jeffrey A. Rydberg-Cox, Overview of Greek Syntax in Perseus: Accusative TOO MUCH on the ACCUSATIVE... but may be useful later on, in Herbert W. Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges, in Perseus: Uses of the Accusative 1 Without adopting their system of classification of accusative functions, I have borrowed some examples and some of their translations from Herbert W. Smyth and Jeffrey A. Rydberg-Cox in Perseus. 2 This term applies not just to the predicate adjectives customarily identified in English, but to any other declinable parts of speech linked to the subject (such as nouns or pronouns).