LESSON TEN: THE ADJECTIVE. Memorization of vocabulary ten

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1 LESSON TEN: THE ADJECTIVE Memorization of vocabulary ten ἀγαθος good ἁγιος holy, set apart ἀλλα but (the regular contrasting particle, with δε used at times) ἀληθεια truth ἀληθινος true/genuine αὐτος he (will be discussed more later; αὐτῳ is its dative form) βαλλω Ι throw γινωσκω I know διδασκω I teach εἀν if (this together with εἰ are used to introduce conditions, something that will be covered more under conditional sentence ) ἐξω out, outside και and, also, even µη not (usually used with moods other than indicative). When it is used with imperative, there is prohibition expressed, do not... µηδε combination of µη (not) and δε (but, and, even) so together means not even or nor ὀφθαλµος eye πατηρ father (this is 3 rd declension noun and so will be discussed in details later. Its genitive form is πατρος) πλανη error, deceit πνευµα spirit σκοτια darkness τελειος complete, perfect, whole τις anyone (indefinite pronoun to be examined under pronouns later; can be confused with an interrogative pronoun, τίς meaning who. When it has no accent (as here) it means anyone etc. τυφλοω I blind ὑµεις personal pronoun you in the plural; its accusative form is υµας and its dative is υµιν φαινω I shine φοβος fear φως light (it is a 3 rd declension neuter noun; so yet to be studied. Here, it is nominative case) χρισµα anointing ὡς as, like (particle of comparison) 1

2 A. Introduction The most common adjectives are those which have (1) second declension endings in the masculine and neuter (that is, they decline like λογος in the masculine and as εργον in the neuter) and (2) the endings of the first declension in η for the feminine (that is, they decline like ἀρχη in the feminine). A model adjective in this class is ἀγαθος (see Wenham, p. 47; Duff, p. 55; Jay, p. 36; Summers, p. 28). Usually they have a stem ending in a consonant, other than ρ. Those with stem ending in a vowel (ε, ι) or ρ follow the forms of ἡµερα in the feminine singular while the rest of its forms remain as those whose stem end in a consonant other than ρ. Model adjective for this second class is ἁγιος γιος. This means that the endings of ἀγαθος and ἁγιος will be the same except in the feminine singular. An adjective agrees with the noun it qualifies in: gender, number, and case. Each will therefore have masculine, feminine, and neuter forms. Also, singular and plural forms. The form will be in one of the five cases noted under study of nouns. Thus: B. Forms of ἀγαθος (good) 1. Masculine forms Nominative ἀγαθος ἀγαθοι (good.., good..) Accusative ἀγαθον ἀγαθους (good, good..) Genitive ἀγαθου ἀγαθων (of good..) Dative ἀγαθῳ ἀγαθοις (to, for good..) Vocative ἀγαθε ἀγαθοι (Good!, e.g. Good Lord!) Note: These do not call for fresh memorization. Their endings are like those of λογος which have already been learned. 2. Feminine forms Nominative ἀγαθη ἀγαθαι Accusative ἀγαθην ἀγαθας Genitive ἀγαθης ἀγαθων Dative ἀγαθῃ ἀγαθαις Vocative ἀγαθη ἀγαθαι Note: These do not call for fresh memorization, either. They have the same endings as αρχη which have already been learned. 2

3 3. Neuter forms Nominative ἀγαθον ἀγαθα Accusative ἀγαθον ἀγαθα Genitive ἀγαθου ἀγαθων Dative ἀγαθῳ ἀγαθοις Vocative ἀγαθον ἀγαθα Note: These do not call for fresh memorization. Their endings are the same as those of εργον which has been learned. C. Forms of ἁγιος (holy): 1. Masculine forms of ἁγιος (same as those of ἀγαθος) Nominative ἁγιος ἁγιοι Accusative ἁγιον ἁγιους Genitive ἁγιου ἁγιων Dative ἁγιῳ ἁγιοις Vocative ἁγιε ἁγιοι Note: No fresh memorization needed. Endings are the same as those of λογος which is already learned. 2. Feminine forms of αγιος (plural same as αγαθος, singular same as ηµερα) Nominative ἁγια ἁγιαι Accusative ἁγιαν ἁγιας Genitive ἁγιας ἁγιων Dative ἁγιᾳ ἁγιαις Vocative ἁγια ἁγιαι Note: Though some of the endings are like those of ηµερα (see the singular forms) the plural follows the same endings as we have in αρχη, already learned. 3. Neuter forms of αγιος (same as those of αγαθος) Nominative ἁγιον ἁγια Accusative ἁγιον ἁγια Genitive ἁγιου ἁγιων 3

4 Dative ἁγιῳ ἁγιοις Vocative ἁγιον ἁγια Note: No fresh memorization is needed. The endings are like those of εργον, already learned. D. Function of Adjectives In their relationship to the nouns they qualify, adjectives may have three functions in relation to a noun: attribute a quality (for example, good mothers), describe (for example, mothers are good), stand in its place (for example, the good with mothers to be understood). The terms used, respectively, are attributive, predicative, and substantive use of the adjective. 1. Attributive (the good word, good man etc.): In this the adjective is immediately preceded by definite article. The noun may have article or not, but the focus is on the adjective being preceded by an article. Two possible constructions (sometimes referred to as positions of the adjective) are: a. article, adjective, noun. For example, ὁ ἀγαθος λογος or b. article, noun, article, adjective. For example, ὁ λογος ὁ ἀγαθος 2. Predicative (the word is good, the man is good). In this, the adjective does not have an article. Possible constructions include: a. article, noun, adjective. For example, ὁ λογος ἀγαθος or b. adjective, article, noun. For example, ἀγαθος ὁ λογος 3. Substantive the adjective used as a noun. The thing to note here is that there is no noun that it qualifies in the construction. In this usage, ὁ ἀγαθος will mean the good man, ἡ ἀγαθη the good woman, and το ἀγαθον - the good thing. Whether the noun supplied is man, woman or thing and whether it is singular or plural are dependent on its form that has been used. Exercise 10 Translate the following into English 1. το φως το ἀληθινον φαινει (1 John 2:8) 2. ἡ σκοτια ἐτυφλωσεν τους ὀφθαλµους (2:11) 3. γινωσκετε το πνευµα του Θεου (4:2) 4. γινωσκοµεν το πνευµα της ἀληθειας και το πνευµα της πλανης (4:6) 5. ἡ τελεια ἀγαπη ἐξω βαλλει τον φοβον (4:18) Samuel M. Ngewa Africa International University 4

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