Declension of the definite article

Greek alphabet Α α Alpha Ν ν Nu Β β Beta Ξ ξ Xi Γ γ Gamma Ο ο Omicron Δ δ Delta Π π Pi Ε ε Epsilon Ρ ρ Rho Ζ ζ Zeta Σ σ ς Sigma Η η Eta Τ τ Tau Θ θ Theta Υ υ Upsilon Ι ι Iota Φ φ Phi Κ κ Kappa Χ χ Khi Λ λ Lambda Ψ ψ Psi Μ μ Mu Ω ω Omega

Declension of the definite article masculine feminine neuter ὁ ἡ το τον την το του της του τῳ τῃ τῳ οἱ αἱ τα τους τας τα των των των τοις ταις τοις

Adjective fine, beautiful, good masculine feminine neuter καλ-ος καλ-η καλ-ον καλ-ον καλ-ην καλ-ον καλ-ου καλ-ης καλ-ου καλ-ῳ καλ-ῃ καλ-ῳ voc. (where differing from ) καλ-ε καλ-οι καλ-αι καλ-α καλ-ους καλ-ας καλ-α καλ-ων καλ-ων καλ-ων καλ-οις καλ-αις καλ-οις

Adjective bad, evil, cowardly, lowly, mean masculine feminine neuter κακ-ος κακ-η κακ-ον κακ-ον κακ-ην κακ-ον κακ-ου κακ-ης κακ-ου κακ-ῳ κακ-ῃ κακ-ῳ voc. (where differing from ) κακ-ε κακ-οι κακ-αι κακ-α κακ-ους κακ-ας κακ-α κακ-ων κακ-ων κακ-ων κακ-οις κακ-αις κακ-οις N.B. this slide is purely illustrative; the forms are the same as καλ-ος

Verb I go, I am going, I do go present, indicative, active the imperative mood (as a command) 1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person βαιν-ω βαιν-ε βαιν-εις βαιν-ετε βαιν-ει βαιν-ομεν 2nd person βαιν-ετε 3rd person βαιν-ουσι(ν) N.B. the nu is added when preceding a word beginning with a vowel

Contract verbs There are three types: α-contracts ε-contracts ο-contracts Note that contraction is confined to verbs whose stem ends in α- ε- or ο-.

Contract verbs α+ο/ου/ω=ω α+ει=ᾳ α+ε=α ε+ω=ω ε+ε/ει=ει ε+ο/ου=ου ο+ω=ω ο+ε/ο/ου=ου ο+ι/οι=οι

Contract verbs uncontracted α-contract ε-contract ο-contract βαινω ὁραω ποιεω δηλοω I go I see I do/make I show 1st person βαιν-ω ὁρ-ω ποι-ω δηλ-ω 2nd person βαιν-εις ὁρ-ᾳς ποι-εις δηλ-οις 3rd person βαιν-ει ὁρ-ᾳ ποι-ει δηλ-οι 1st person βαιν-ομεν ὁρ-ωμεν ποι-ουμεν δηλ-ουμεν 2nd person βαιν-ετε ὁρ-ατε ποι-ειτε δηλ-ουτε 3rd person βαιν-ουσι(ν) ὁρ-ωσι(ν) ποι-ουσι(ν) δηλ-ουσι(ν) imperative βαιν-ε ὁρ-α ποι-ει δηλ-ου imperative βαιν-ετε ὁρ-ατε ποι-ειτε δηλ-ουτε

Forming adverbs adjective genitive masculine adverb καλ-ος καλ-ων καλ-ως fine/beautiful finely/ beautifully κακ-ος κακ-ων κακ-ως bad/evil badly/evilly σαφ-ης σαφ-ων σαφ-ως clear clearly βαθ-υς βαθ-εων βαθ-εως deep deeply ἀκριβ-ης ἀκριβ-ων ἀκριβ-ως accurate accurately

Nouns type 2a ἀνθρωπος, ὁ man/fellow masculine ἀνθρωπ ος ἀνθρωπ ον ἀνθρωπ ου ἀνθρωπ ῳ voc. (where differing from ) ἀνθρωπ ε ἀνθρωπ οι ἀνθρωπ ους ἀνθρωπ ων ἀνθρωπ οις

Nouns type 2b ἐργον, το task/duty/job/work neuter ἐργ-ον ἐργ-ον ἐργ-ου ἐργ-ῳ ἐργ-α ἐργ-α ἐργ-ων ἐργ-οις

The ι, ρ, ε rule If an adjective ends in -ος in the masculine nominative and its stem ends in ι, ρ or ε, it will follow the pattern of ἡμετερος (i.e. it will have α instead of η in the feminine ).

Adjective our(s) male female neuter ἡμετερ-ος ἡμετερ-α ἡμετερ-ον ἡμετερ-ον ἡμετερ-αν ἡμετερ-ον ἡμετερ-ου ἡμετερ-ας ἡμετερ-ου ἡμετερ-ῳ ἡμετερ-ᾳ ἡμετερ-ῳ ἡμετερ-οι ἡμετερ-αι ἡμετερ-α ἡμετερ-ους ἡμετερ-ας ἡμετερ-α ἡμετερ-ων ἡμετερ-ων ἡμετερ-ων ἡμετερ-οις ἡμετερ-αις ἡμετερ-οις

Prepositions προς + =towards e.g. προς την γην (towards the land) ἀπο + =away from/from e.g. ἀπο του πλοιου (away from the ship) ἐκ + =out of/from e.g. ἐκ του πλοιου (out of the ship) ἐν + =in, on, among e.g. ἐν τῃ θαλαττῃ (in the sea)

Irregular verb I am present, indicative, active 1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person 2nd person 3rd person εἰμι εἰ ἐστι(ν) ἐσμεν ἐστε εἰσι(ν)

Irregular verb I know present, indicative, active 1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person 2nd person 3rd person οἰδα οἰσθα οἰδε ἰσμεν ἰστε ἰσασι(ν)

No complementary definite article In Greek, the complement does not normally have a definite article; the subject has a definite article.

Omission of the verb to be Quite often, in Greek, the verb to be is omitted from a sentence (a feature called ellipsis ). Thus when finding a sentence without a verb try inserting some form of εἰμι. e.g. Μεμνων καλος (Memnon handsome) can be read Μεμνων καλος [ἐστι] (Memnon [is] handsome)

Verb I go, I am going, I do go present, indicative, active the imperative mood 1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person ἐρχ-ομαι ἐρχ-ου ἐρχ-ῃ (-ει) ἐρχ-εσθε ἐρχ-εται ἐρχ-ομεθα 2nd person ἐρχ-εσθε 3rd person ἐρχ-ονται

Contracted middle verbs uncontracted α-contract ε-contract ο-contract ἐρχομαι θεαομαι φοβεομαι δουλοομαι I go I watch I fear I enslave (for myself) 1st person ἐρχ-ομαι θε-ωμαι φοβ-ουμαι δουλ-ουμαι 2nd person ἐρχ-ῃ (-ει) θε-ᾳ φοβ-ῃ δουλ-οι 3rd person ἐρχ-εται θε-αται φοβ-ειται δουλ-ουται 1st person ἐρχ-ομεθα θε-ωμεθα φοβ-ουμεθα δουλ-ουμεθα 2nd person ἐρχ-εσθε θε-ασθε φοβ-εισθε δουλ-ουσθε 3rd person ἐρχ-ονται θε-ωνται φοβ-ουνται δουλ-ουνται imperative ἐρχ-ου θε-ω φοβ-ου δουλ-ου imperative ἐρχ-εσθε θε-ασθε φοβ-εισθε δουλ-ουσθε

Nouns type 1a N.B. all type 1a nouns are feminine βοη, ἡ shout feminine βο-η βο-ην βο-ης βο-ῃ βο-αι βο-ας βο-ων βο-αις

Nouns type 1b N.B. all type 1b nouns are feminine ἀπορια, ἡ perplexity feminine απορι-α απορι-αν απορι-ας απορι-ᾳ απορι-αι απορι-ας απορι-ων απορι-αις N.B. type 1b nouns merely invoke the ι, ρ, ε rule

Nouns type 1c N.B. all type 1c nouns are feminine θαλαττα, ἡ sea feminine θαλαττ-α θαλαττ-αν θαλαττ-ης θαλαττ-ῃ θαλαττ-αι θαλαττ-ας θαλαττ-ων θαλαττ-αις N.B. type 1c nouns usually, but not always, have a stem ending in a sigma or double consonant

Nouns type 1d N.B. all type 1d nouns are masculine voc. ναυτης, ὁ sailor masculine ναυτ-ης ναυτ-ην ναυτ-ου ναυτ-ῃ ναυτ-α ναυτ-αι ναυτ-ας ναυτ-ων ναυτ-αις

Nouns type 1d N.B. some type 1d nouns end in the nominative thus: -ας (e.g. νεανι-ας) νεανιας, ὁ young man masculine νεανι-ας νεανι-αν νεανι-ου νεανι-ᾳ voc. νεανι-α νεανι-αι νεανι-ας νεανι-ων νεανι-αις

Prepositions παρα + =along, alongside, beside ἐπι + =against, at, to δια + =because of περι + =near, about εἰς + =to, into, onto

Nouns type 3a N.B. all type 3a nouns are either masculine or feminine, but never neuter λιμην, ὁ (λιμεν-) harbour masculine λιμην λιμεν-α λιμεν-ος λιμεν-ι λιμεν-ες λιμεν-ας λιμεν-ων λιμεσι(ν) [contraction of λιμεν-σι(ν)]

Nouns type 3a N.B. all type 3a nouns are either masculine or feminine, but never neuter νυξ, ἡ (νυκτ-) night feminine νυξ νυκτ-α νυκτ-ος νυκτ-ι νυκτ-ες νυκτ-ας νυκτ-ων νυξι(ν) [contraction of νυκτ-σι(ν)]

3a nouns ending in -ις (usually feminine) generally have an accusative in - ιν. For example, χαρις (χαριτ-), grace, accusative χαριν, but otherwise follow the same pattern as λιμην and νυξ. Note, however, that πατρις (accusative: πατριδα) is an exception.

Personal pronouns I/me you (s.) ἐγω συ με or ἐμε σε μου or ἐμου σου μοι or ἐμοι σοι the latter form is more emphatic we/us you (p.) ἡμεις ὑμεις ἡμας ὑμας ἡμων ὑμων ἡμιν ὑμιν

Adjective/pronoun this (or he, she, it) masculine feminine neuter οὑτ-ος αὑτ-η τουτ-ο τουτ-ον ταυτ-ην τουτ-ο τουτ-ου ταυτ-ης τουτ-ου τουτ-ῳ ταυτ-ῃ τουτ-ῳ οὑτ-οι αὑτ-αι ταυτ-α τουτ-ους ταυτ-ας ταυτ-α τουτ-ων τουτ-ων τουτ-ων τουτ-οις ταυτ-αις τουτ-οις N.B. the rule is that α/η in the ending goes with -αυ- in the stem, whereas ο/ω in the ending goes with -ου- in the stem

Adjective/pronoun that (or he, she, it) masculine feminine neuter ἐκειν-ος ἐκειν-η ἐκειν-ο ἐκειν-ον ἐκειν-ην ἐκειν-ο ἐκειν-ου ἐκειν-ης ἐκειν-ου ἐκειν-ῳ ἐκειν-ῃ ἐκειν-ῳ ἐκειν-οι ἐκειν-αι ἐκειν-α ἐκειν-ους ἐκειν-ας ἐκειν-α ἐκειν-ων ἐκειν-ων ἐκειν-ων ἐκειν-οις ἐκειν-αις ἐκειν-οις

Both οὑτος and ἐκεινος can occur in forms ending in -ι, e.g. ἐκεινοςι, τουτονι etc. This intensifies the pronouns so that they mean this man here or that woman there etc.

Adjective many, much masculine feminine neuter πολ-υς πολ-η πολ-υ πολ-υν πολ-ην πολ-υ πολ-ου πολ-ης πολ-ου πολ-ῳ πολ-ῃ πολ-ῳ πολ-οι πολ-αι πολ-α πολ-ους πολ-ας πολ-α πολ-ων πολ-ων πολ-ων πολ-οις πολ-αις πολ-οις the declension is the same as καλος, except for the four forms underlined

Adjective big, great masculine feminine neuter μεγ-ας μεγ-η μεγ-α μεγ-αν μεγ-ην μεγ-α μεγ-ου μεγ-ης μεγ-ου μεγ-ῳ μεγ-ῃ μεγ-ῳ μεγ-οι μεγ-αι μεγ-α μεγ-ους μεγ-ας μεγ-α μεγ-ων μεγ-ων μεγ-ων μεγ-οις μεγ-αις μεγ-οις the declension is the same as καλος, except for the four forms underlined

Irregular noun Ζευς, ὁ Zeus masculine voc. Ζευς Δι-α Δι-ος Δι-ι ὠ Ζευ N.B. the endings are the same as for regular type 3a nouns; it is classed as irregular because of the unusual change in its stem

Irregular noun ναυς, ἡ ship feminine ναυς ναυν νεως νηι ὠ ναυ νηες ναυς νεων ναυσι(ν)

Nouns type 3b N.B. all type 3b nouns are neuter πραγμα, το (πραγματ-) deed, thing, matter neuter πραγμα πραγμα πραγματ-ος πραγματ-ι πραγματ-α πραγματ-α πραγματ-ων πραγμασι(ν)

Nouns type 3c N.B. all type 3c nouns are neuter and end in -ος πληθος, το (πραγματ-) number, crowd, the people neuter πληθ-ος πληθ-ος πληθ-ους πληθε-ι πληθ-η πληθ-η πληθ-ων πληθε-σι(ν)

Nouns type 3e N.B. all type 3e nouns end in either -ις (f.) or -υς (m.) voc. πολις, ἡ city-state feminine πολι-ς πολι-ν πολε-ως πολε-ι ὠ πολι πολεις πολεις πολε-ων πολε-σι(ν)

Nouns type 3e N.B. all type 3e nouns end in either -ις (f.) or -υς (m.) πρεσβυς, ὁ old man (s.); ambassadors (pl.) masculine πρεσβυ-ς πρεσβυ-ς πρεσβε-ως πρεσβε-ι voc. ὠ πρεσβυ πρεσβεις πρεσβεις πρεσβε-ων πρεσβε-σι(ν)

Nouns type 3f N.B. all type 3e nouns are neuter and end in -υ ἀστυ, το city neuter ἀστυ ἀστυ ἀστε-ως ἀστε-ι ἀστη ἀστη ἀστεων ἀστε-σι(ν)

Type 3 adjective well-disposed εὐφρων, εὐφρον (εὐφρον-) masculine/feminine neuter εὐφρων εὐφρον εὐφρον-α εὐφρον εὐφρον-ος εὐφρον-ος εὐφρον-ι εὐφρον-ι voc. εὐφρον εὐφρον-ες εὐφρον-α εὐφρον-ας εὐφρον-α εὐφρον-ων εὐφρον-ων εὐφροσι(ν) εὐφροσι(ν) N.B. just as the endings of καλος-type adjectives correspond to the endings of type 1 & 2 nouns, so the type 3 adjective endings correspond to the endings of type 3a and 3b (and, like them, also have a stem which needs to be learned)

Pronouns a, a certain, some masculine/feminine neuter τις τι τιν-α τι τιν-ος τιν-ος τιν-ι τιν-ι τιν-ες τιν-α τιν-ας τιν-α τιν-ων τιν-ων τισι(ν) τισι(ν)

Interrogative pronoun which? who? what? masculine/feminine neuter τίς τί τίν-α τί τίν-ος τίν-ος τίν-ι τίν-ι τίν-ες τίν-α τίν-ας τίν-α τίν-ων τίν-ων τίσι(ν) τίσι(ν)

Adjective no, no-one, nothing masculine feminine neuter ουδεις ουδε-μι-α ουδεν ουδεν-α ουδε-μι-αν ουδεν ουδεν-ος ουδε-μι-ας ουδεν-ος ουδεν-ι ουδε-μι-ᾳ ουδεν-ι N.B. the 3-1-3 pattern the feminine form declines exactly like a first declension noun (type 1b); the male and neuter forms of the adjective decline like a third declension noun (types 3a and type 3b respectively)