LESSON SEVEN: A BREAK FROM THE VERB AND INTRODUCTION OF THE NOUN A. Summary on the verb So far we have been focused on the verb, and particularly the verb in the indicative mood and active voice. There are also forms of the verb in other moods and in other voices (see a list of these in lesson two). We will, however, take a break from the verb and introduce the noun so that we can begin to translate simple sentences. Before we do so, however, let us review what we have said about the forms of the verb learned so far: 1. Once we have memorized the endings of the present tense, we have also memorized those of the future. The detail to keep in mind is that the future has σ as sign of tense (occupant of room three) but the present tense does not. 2. Once we have memorized the endings of the 1 st (regular) aorist, we have also memorized the endings of the perfect tense except for the 3 rd person plural where there is a difference. 3. Once we have memorized the endings of the imperfect tense, we have also memorized those of the 2 nd (irregular) aorist. The difference between the two is in the stem. 4. Observing the vowels at the ending helps us differentiate the perfect from the pluperfect though both have a reduplication and share κ as sign of tense (occupant of room three). This is crucial when the optional ε before the reduplication in the pluperfect is left out. 5. Though the 1 st aorist and the future share σ as sign of tense, the presence of an augment in the aorist (in the indicative mood) helps us differentiate the two. The endings are also different with the 1 st aorist using vowel α for the most part (all places except the 3 rd person singular where we have ε) while the future uses the present tense endings (vowels ω, ο, ε and ου) B. Introduction of the Greek Noun Memorization of Vocabulary seven ἀγαπαω I love ἀδελφος brother ἀκουω I hear ἀµπελος vine ἀνθρωπος man (generic use, member of the humankind) βιβλος book, scroll γινωσκω I know διακονος deaconess (has both masculine deacon, and feminine use) δουλος slave, servant ἐργον work ἐρηµος desert, wilderness ζητεω I seek 1
θεος God/god ἱερον temple καρπος fruit κοσµος world κυριος lord, Lord λαλεω I say λογος word ὁ, ἡ, το article the in masculine, feminine, and neuter forms ὁδος way, road ὀφθαλµος eye πιστευω I believe τεκνον child τριβος path υἱος son φιλεω I love φοβος fear Greek nouns fall into two main categories: 1. Nouns whose stems end in a vowel. 2. Nouns whose stems end in a consonant. We, however, talk of three (not two) noun declensions 1. This is because those which end in a vowel are divided further into those whose stem s last vowel is ο (basically those whose nominative [see cases below] singular form [vocabulary form]) end in -ος or -ον) and those whose stem s last vowel is other than ο, for example, α and η (basically those whose nominative singular end in α, η, ης or ας). As a general rule, nouns whose nominative singular form ends in - ος are masculine with a few feminine exceptions; those ending in -ον are neuter; those ending in α or η feminine while those ending in ας or ης are masculine. Those ending in ο are classified as second declension, those ending in another vowel - first declension, and those ending in a consonant - third declension. 2 In the study of the Greek nouns, it is normally easier to begin with study of second declension, then examine first declension, finishing with third declension. This is what we will do also. 1 The term declension as used here is from the verb decline. It is a summary term for the patterns observable when nouns are declined to change their cases and number (singular or plural) 2 It needs to be noted that such words as γενος though having ος ending in their nominative forms, are 3 rd declension for the stem of γενος is γενεσ, not γενο (this will be studied under 3 rd declension nouns later) 2
The most crucial matter concerning Greek nouns (alongside gender and declension) at the level of form, is to determine what case a noun is in. Five Greek cases that will be used in this study are: 1. Nominative its most basic use is to spell out the subject of the verb (action) in the sentence. 2. Accusative its basic use is to spell out the direct object (receiving action) in the sentence 3. Genitive its basic use is to express possession 4. Dative its basic meaning is to spell out indirect object ( to or for whom action is done) 5. Vocative its basic use is in addressing someone C. Second Declension Nouns These are predominantly masculine and neuter, though there are some that are feminine (see below). Their endings, within the different cases, are as follows: 1. Masculine The model masculine noun is λογος (word, see also Wenham, p. 30; Duff, p. 36; Jay, p. 32;) or ἀνθρωπος (man, see Summers, pp. 15-16 and Kubo, p. 11). Other simple nouns used to illustrate this (see Summers, pp. 18-19) include δουλος (slave, servant), υἱος (son), καρπος (fruit) The forms of λογος (whose pattern would be followed by these other nouns) are: Singular Plural Translation and function Nominative λογος λογοι (word[s] as subject of a verb) Accusative λογον λογους (word[s] as direct object of a verb) Genitive λογου λογων ( of word basic ideas being possession ) Dative λογῳ λογοις ( to or for word indirect object) Vocative: λογε λογοι ( word!, as an address calling it out) * Note that for all other nouns that follow, the nominative form usually serves as the subject, the accusative as direct object, the genitive needs the translation of, the dative serves as indirect object needing the translation to or for and the vocative is used when the person or object is being addressed (see λογος above) 2. Neuter The model nouns are ἐργον (work, see Wenham, p. 37; Duff, p. 36; Jay, p. 32), δωρον (gift, see Summers, p. 20) or ἱερον (temple, see Summers, p. 20) and τεκνον (child) The forms of ἐργον (work, as a pattern for other nouns in the group) are: 3
Singular Plural Nominative ἐργον ἐργα (work, works) Accusative ἐργον ἐργα (work, works) Genitive ἐργου ἐργων (of work, of works) Dative ἐργῳ ἐργοις (to or for work/works) Vocative ἐργον ἐργα (work! works!) (note the iota subscript in the dative singular) 3. Feminine An example of a feminine noun in this declension is ὁδος (way, road). Other common nouns in this category are ἀµπελος (vine), βιβλος (book), ἐρηµος (desert), τριβος (path), διακονος (when used of female servant). The forms are like those of λογος but in classification, it is a feminine noun. This means that when an article is used with these nouns (see lesson nine), the article will be feminine though the noun itself declines like λογος which is masculine. Singular Plural Nominative ὁδος ὁδοι (way, ways) Accusative ὁδον ὁδους (way, ways) Genitive ὁδου ὁδων (of way, of ways) Dative ὁδῳ ὁδοις (to or for way/ways) Vocative ὁδε ὁδοι (way! ways!) Notes: 1. Gender in Greek is not just determined by male, female etc. classifications. For example, the key three nouns listed above are all things yet λογος is masculine, ἐργον neuter and ὁδος feminine. 2. While names of men and male animals are in masculine and those of women and female animals feminine, there are many that would be neuter in English but fall under masculine or feminine in Greek. 3. In most vocabulary listings (in dictionaries/lexicons) each Greek noun is accompanied by an article (and as will be shown below, the Greek article has masculine, feminine, and neuter forms) and therefore one does not need to memorize which is masculine or feminine of these nouns ending with -ος. The frequency with which some of the key words are met helps to know which belongs where, otherwise there is no need trying to memorize them in their categories. The provision of an accompanying article in the lexicons provide this information. 4. When a noun is used as subject (doing an action) it must agree with its verb in number (for example, λογος λυει and λογοι λυουσιν). Neuter plural nouns, however, take 4
singular verbs (for example, τεκνον λυει and τεκνα λυει). This is because they are viewed collectively. Exercise seven Translate the following short phrases from (or related to) the Greek New Testament (some modified a little) and make observations about (1) noun cases (2) order of words 1. θεος ἠγαπησεν κοσµον (John 3:16) 2. θεον ἠγαπησεν κοσµος 3. ἀδελφον ζητει ἀνθρωπος 4. ἐλαλεσαν λογον κυριου (Acts 16:32) 5. λαλει λογος κυριου 6. κυριοι λογου γινωσκουσιν λογους 7. πιστευετε θεῳ 3 8. διακονου 4 ἀκουει Θεος 9. διακονος ἀκουει θεου 10. φιλουµεν θεου υἱον Samuel M. Ngewa Africa International University 3 The verb πιστευω, together with a few other verbs to be learned later, has the special characteristic that it takes direct object in the dative case. 4 The verb, ἀκουω, together with a few other verbs to be learned later, takes direct object in the genitive case. 5