How to Translate 1. How to translate a noun or pronoun 2. How to translate an article, adjective, or adverb 3. How to translate a participle 4. How to translate a verb 5. How to translate a preposition or conjunction 6. Single words and word groups 7. How to translate a verse
1. How to translate a noun or pronoun Look up the word. Look up its context-specific meaning. Then consider: Nominative? Write the noun or pronoun, then the verb. It s the subject (unless it s in a letter s from or greeting ). If it s singular, it needs a he/she/it verb form. If it s plural, it needs a they verb form. If 2 nominatives and a be/become verb: Write the 1 st one, verb, 2 nd one. (the 2 nd one is called a predicate nominative ) Follows a preposition and completes its meaning? Write the preposition, then the noun or pronoun, plus descriptive words (if any). It s the object of the preposition. Otherwise Genitive? Dative? Accusative? Write of, then the noun or pronoun. It s a description. Write to/with/in/by (twib), then the noun or pronoun. It s to or for whom an action is done (indirect object). Write the verb (or participle), then the noun or pronoun. It s upon what an action is done (direct object). Check: did you end up with an extra helping word (of, twib)? If so, the verb works with genitive or dative direct objects. The helping word is not needed. Two side-by-side The 2 nd is in apposition: it describes or identifies the 1 st. Pronoun notes Personal nominative I you he/she/it we you they genitive my your his/hers/its our your their dative/accusative me you him/her/it us you them Relative who/whom/which/that Demonstrative this/that/these/those A nominative personal pronoun may add emphasis or contrast. How much? Consider the context. A pronoun agrees in gender and number with its antecedent. One may also check: Its case agrees with its function in a word group (or its case agrees with what it describes, if it s a demonstrative functioning as an adjective).
2. How to translate an article, adjective, or adverb article Article in Greek? Start with: the Check: It must agree (in gender, number, and case) with what it points out. No article in Greek? Start with: a Write a, the or nothing at all. If an article occurs before a preposition and does not belong to a word following the prepositional phrase, write the one or nothing at all. If an article occurs before an infinitive, and perhaps after a preposition, use context to render those words. Read it aloud. Does it read well? Does it draw the right amount of attention? adjective (which one? what kind? how many?) Look up the word. Look for its context-specific meaning. Check: It must agree (in gender, number, and case) with what it describes. In the following: { } means maybe and means no 1. {article} + adjective noun τοῖς ἁγίοις Write the adjective, then one or ones. to the holy ones The adjective functions as a noun. 2. article + adjective + {article} + noun τοῦ µακαρίου θεοῦ or {article} + noun + article + adjective of the blessed God Write article and adjective, then the noun. The adjective functions as an adjective. 3. adjective + article + noun πιστὸς ὁ λόγος Write the article, noun, is, then the adjective. the Word is faithful The adjective functions as a predicate nominative (it s on the right of a be/become verb). 4. adjective + noun or noun + adjective θεῷ ἀληθινῷ Write the adjective, then the noun. by the true God Or: write the noun, is, then the adjective. Or: write the adjective, of, then the genitive noun. πάντων ὑµῶν adverb (when? where? how? why?) Write the adverb at about the same position in the sentence. An adverb describes a nearby verb, adjective, or adverb. Use context and similar passages to help you understand.
3. How to translate a participle ( ing) Look up the word. Look for its context-specific meaning. Write the basic form. a. Article before? Write the g one Adjectival: which one, what kind, how many b. Article absent? Usually adverbial. Does it answer when, where, how, why? Write g Adverbial Does it answer which one, what kind, how many? Write g one Adjectival c. Works with: be/become? Write is g Periphrastic (a roundabout saying) Improve it. Use the "translation tip" for tense, voice, and mood. τὸν ῥυόµενον the rescuing one ποιούµενοι making ἠγαπηµένοι beloved ones ἐστε σεσῳσµένοι is saving having been saved Express relative time if adverbial. When does it occur relative to the main verb before, same time, or after? Future Present Aorist or Perfect Write before... The main verb occurs before this action. Write while... The main verb occurs at the same time. Write after... or having d After this action, the main verb occurs. Smooth it, to improve readability. Adjectival: replace ing one with who s Adverbial: replace it with a pronoun and verb. Check it. Adjectival participle? The ending agrees with: what the participle describes Adverbial participle? The ending agrees with: the doer of the action For passive participles, with: the recipient of the action the rescuing one who rescues knowing we know
4. How to translate a verb (action or being) Look up the word. Look for its context-specific meaning. Using Bible GT's helps for tense, voice, and mood, write it. tense: when does action occur? (adverbial participle: when does it occur relative to the main verb before, at the same time, or after?) Aorist: action usually in the past. We thanked God. Present: action usually in the present. We thank God (or "we are thanking God," expressing a continuing action; only rarely is this expressed in translation). Future: action usually in the future. We will thank God. Imperfect: continual action usually in the past. We were thanking God. Perfect: completed action in the past, with effects in the present. We have thanked God. Pluperfect (rarely occurs; think of it as "past perfect"): completed action in the past, with effects that continued for some time in the past. We had thanked God. voice: who does the action? Active: the subject does the action. We thank God. Middle: the subject does the action. The action may in some way affect the subject, yet not so much as to be expressed in English. Modern versions nearly always translate Greek middle by using active voice. We thank God. Passive: the action is done to the subject. God was thanked by us. Middle-passive: if a verb is identified as middle-passive, what that indicates is the same verb form is used for both middle and passive (that is to say: there is no way to look at the verb form and know whether it is middle or passive). Let the context help you with this. Deponent: it's middle or passive in form, yet active in meaning. Such forms are called deponent forms. The advanced section of Bible GT indicates deponents (dep) and automatically supplies an active-voice translation tip. mood: relationship with reality? Indicative: It is. Subjunctive: It may be. It's probable or possible. Optative: It perhaps may be. It's wishful. Imperative: It's a command, or respectful request (when addressing a superior). Infinitive: It's an action, without person or number. It may have an accusative subject. verb form = start + verb body (root or stem) + code + ending root: the most basic form of the verb; not always the same as the present-tense stem ἀγαπα βαλ ἐρ love, throw, say stem: the basic form of the verb in a given tense ἀγαπα βαλλ λεγ present-tense stems lexical form: 1st singular present active indicative ἀγαπάω βάλλω λέγω I love (written ἀγαπῶ). I throw. I say.
5. How to translate a preposition or conjunction preposition: relates its object to another word in a sentence (examples: at, by, for, from, in, into, on, to, with) Look up the case-specific definition. Write it, the word that completes its meaning, plus words functioning as adjectives. If an article occurs before a preposition and does not belong to a word following the prepositional phrase, write the one or nothing at all. If an article occurs before an infinitive, and perhaps after a preposition, use context to render those words. conjunction: connects words or word groups coordinating: and, but, or, not, yet, for, so correlating: either/or, both/and, and neither/nor subordinating: while, because Look up the basic meaning. Write it. 3 subordinating words occur more often than all others combined: ὅτι, ἵνα, ὡς 1 Thes 1:5 ὅτι τὸ εὐαγγέλιον ἡµῶν οὐκ ἐγενήθη εἰς ὑ.µᾶς ἐν λόγῳ µόνον For our gospel did not come to you in word only Reason clause Eph 4:29 ἵνα δῷ χάριν τοῖς ἀκούουσιν That it may give grace to the hearing ones Purpose clause 1 Thes 2:4 οὐχ ὡς ἀνθρώποις ἀρέσκοντες Not as pleasing people Adverbial phrase Another subordinating word which occurs frequently is ὥστε 1 Thes 1:7 ὥστε γενέσθαι ὑµᾶς τύπον So that you became examples Subordinate clause
6. single words and word groups Single-word categories (parts of speech) noun pronoun article adjective adverb participle verb preposition conjunction particle represents a person, place, thing, or idea stands in for a noun personal (I, you, he/she/it; we, you, they) relative (who, whom, which, that) demonstrative (this, that, these, those) points out a noun: the describes a noun (or pronoun) which one, what kind, how many? describes a verb (or an adjective, or another adverb) when, where, how, why? describes like an adjective or adverb, usually with -ing a believing one (which one) he walks, believing (how) expresses action or being relates an object with another word in a sentence at, by, for, from, in, into, on, to, with connects words or groups of words coordinating: and, but, or, not, yet, for, so subordinating: while, because the leftovers Single-word functions subject (nominative case) verb (main verb or clause verb) direct object: upon what the action is done indirect object: to (or for) whom an action is done noun (appositive: side-by-side; predicate nominative: to right of be/become) adjective adverb conjunction starts a clause starts a phrase object of a preposition (what completes a preposition s meaning)
Word-group categories (grammatical constructions) clause includes a verb independent can stand by itself dependent cannot stand by itself relative starts with a relative pronoun (who, whom, which, that) subordinate starts with a subordinating word (conjunction or adverb) for example: for, that, so that, as purpose that [purpose] ἵνα, one of the top 3 reason for [reason] ὅτι, one of the top 3 result so that [result] ὥστε, occurs often adverbial as ὡς, one of the top 3 infinitive starts with an infinitive may have an accusative subject (plus an object too) phrase does not have a verb prepositional starts with a preposition; object completes it; maybe descriptive words too participial participle, plus its direct object (before or after) Word-group function adjectival? describes: a noun or pronoun, or something functioning as a noun answers: which one, what kind, how many? hint: relative clauses are usually adjectival adverbial? describes: a verb, adv, adj, or something functioning as an adv or adj answers: when, where, how, why? hint: subordinate clauses are usually adverbial other word-group function? subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition
7. How to translate a verse. Identify the word groups. - Circle these structural signposts: - Preposition (starts a prepositional phrase) - No-article participle with a direct object (such a participle signals a participial phrase) - Look at each red verb; does it have one of these before it? If so, circle each signpost: - Subordinating word: for, that, so that, as (starts a subordinate clause) - Relative pronoun: who, whom, which, that (starts a relative clause) - Infinitive (signals an infinitive clause) - For each signpost, underline the words that go with it. - From the leftovers, look for: - Subject, main verb He speaks - Direct object (upon what an action is done) the Word - Indirect object (to or for whom an action is done) to the holy ones. Translate each word group. Then translate the leftovers, too. - Take into account the verse, its context, and other passages. Refine. - Consider what describes what. - Check if moving some words or word groups would better convey what describes what. - Improve readability, while staying true to the text. Some word-group notes clause includes a verb independent can stand by itself dependent cannot stand by itself relative starts with a relative pronoun (who, whom, which, that) subordinate starts with a subordinating word (conjunction or adverb) for example: for, that, so that, as purpose that [purpose] ἵνα, one of the top 3 reason for [reason] ὅτι, one of the top 3 result so that [result] ὥστε, occurs often adverbial as ὡς, one of the top 3 infinitive starts with an infinitive may have an accusative subject (plus an object too) phrase does not have a verb prepositional starts with a preposition; object completes it; maybe descriptive words too participial participle, plus its direct object (before or after) adjectival? describes: a noun or pronoun, or something functioning as a noun answers: which one, what kind, how many? hint: relative clauses are usually adjectival adverbial? describes: a verb, adv, adj, or something functioning as an adv or adj answers: when, where, how, why? hint: subordinate clauses are usually adverbial other word-group function? subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition
Translation-practice sequence 1 Thes 1:1,2,6,4,10,5,9,7,8 1 Παῦ λος καὶ Σι λου α νὸς καὶ Τι µό θε ος τῇ ἐκ κλη σί ᾳ Θεσ σα λο νι κέ ων ἐν θε ῷ πα τρὶ καὶ κυ ρί ῳ Ἰ η σοῦ Χρι στῷ χά ρις ὑ µῖν καὶ εἰ ρή νη. 2 Εὐ χα ρι στοῦ µεν τῷ θε ῷ πάν το τε πε ρὶ πάν των ὑ µῶν µνεί αν ποι ού µε νοι ἐ πὶ τῶν προ σευ χῶν ἡ µῶν, ἀ δι α λείπ τως 3 µνη µο νεύ ον τες ὑ µῶν τοῦ ἔρ γου τῆς πί στε ως καὶ τοῦ κό που τῆς ἀ γά πης καὶ τῆς ὑ πο µο νῆς τῆς ἐλ πί δος τοῦ κυ ρί ου ἡ µῶν Ἰ η σοῦ Χρι στοῦ ἔµ προσ θεν τοῦ θε οῦ καὶ πα τρὸς ἡ µῶν, 4 εἰ δό τες, ἀ δελ φοὶ ἠ γα πη µέ νοι ὑ πὸ τοῦ θε οῦ, τὴν ἐκ λο γὴν ὑ µῶν, 5 ὅ τι τὸ εὐ αγ γέ λι ον ἡ µῶν οὐκ ἐ γε νή θη εἰς ὑ µᾶς ἐν λό γῳ µό νον ἀλ λὰ καὶ ἐν δυ νά µει καὶ ἐν πνεύ µα τι ἁ γί ῳ καὶ πλη ρο φο ρί ᾳ πολ λῇ, κα θὼς οἴ δα τε οἷ οι ἐ γε νή θη µεν ὑ µῖν δι ὑ µᾶς 6 καὶ ὑ µεῖς µι µη ταὶ ἡ µῶν ἐ γε νή θη τε καὶ τοῦ κυ ρί ου, δεξ ά µε νοι τὸν λό γον ἐν θλίψ ει πολ λῇ µε τὰ χα ρᾶς πνεύ µα τος ἁ γί ου, 7 ὥ στε γε νέσ θαι ὑ µᾶς τύ πον πᾶ σιν τοῖς πι στεύ ου σιν ἐν τῇ Μα κε δο νί ᾳ καὶ ἐν τῇ Ἀ χα ΐ ᾳ. 8 ἀφ ὑ µῶν γὰρ ἐξ ή χη ται ὁ λό γος τοῦ κυ ρί ου οὐ µό νον ἐν τῇ Μα κε δο νί ᾳ καὶ Ἀ χα ΐ ᾳ, ἀλλ ἐν παν τὶ τό πῳ ἡ πί στις ὑ µῶν ἡ πρὸς τὸν θε ὸν ἐξ ε λή λυ θεν, ὥ στε µὴ χρεί αν ἔ χειν ἡ µᾶς λα λεῖν τι 9 αὐ τοὶ γὰρ πε ρὶ ἡ µῶν ἀ παγ γέλ λου σιν ὁ ποί αν εἴ σο δον ἔ σχο µεν πρὸς ὑ µᾶς, καὶ πῶς ἐ πε στρέψ α τε πρὸς τὸν θε ὸν ἀ πὸ τῶν εἰ δώ λων δου λεύ ειν θε ῷ ζῶν τι καὶ ἀ λη θι νῷ, 10 καὶ ἀ να µέ νειν τὸν υἱ ὸν αὐ τοῦ ἐκ τῶν οὐ ρα νῶν, ὃν ἤ γει ρεν ἐκ τῶν νε κρῶν, Ἰ η σοῦν τὸν ῥυ ό µε νον ἡ µᾶς ἐκ τῆς ὀρ γῆς τῆς ἐρ χο µέ νης.
An example sentence τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ λαλεῖ πάντοτε ἄνθρωπος ὁ καλὸς ὅν ὁ θεὸς ἀγαπᾷ ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τοῖς ἁγίοις καὶ πιστεύουσιν πιστεύων αὐτόν ἵνα γινώσκωσιν τὸν ἀληθινόν καὶ ὣστε στῆναι αὐτούς ὅτι ἀγαπῶσιν τὸν θεόν. τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ the Word of God λαλεῖ πάντοτε ἄνθρωπος ὁ καλὸς the good person always speaks ὅν ὁ θεὸς ἀγαπᾷ whom God loves ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ in the church τοῖς ἁγίοις καὶ πιστεύουσιν to the holy and believing ones πιστεύων αὐτόν while believing it ἵνα γινώσκωσιν τὸν ἀληθινόν that [purpose] they may know the true one ὣστε στῆναι αὐτούς and therefore [result] they stand ὅτι ἀγαπῶσιν τὸν θεόν because [reason] they love God! The good person whom God loves always speaks the Word of God while believing it, in the church to the holy and believing ones that [purpose] they may know the true one, and therefore [result] they stand because [reason] they love God. 2011%12&Bible>&(BibleGT.org).&All&rights&reserved.& Permission&granted&for&individual&use&or&classroom&use,&with&this©right¬ice.&
Adverb. Describes when he speaks. πάντοτε Article and adjective. Adjective describes what kind of man. ὁ καλὸς Dependent/relative clause. Functions adjectivally, describing what kind of man. ὅν ὁ θεὸς ἀγαπᾷ Subject ἄνθρωπος Main verb λαλεῖ Indirect object. Indicates to whom the "he speaks" action is done. τοῖς ἁγίοις καὶ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν Direct object. Indicates upon what the "he speaks" action is done. τὸν λόγον Description. Functions adjectivally, describing which word. τοῦ θεοῦ Prepositional phrase. Functions adverbially, describing where he speaks. ἐν τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ Participial phrase. Functions adverbially, describing how he speaks. πιστεύων αὐτόν Dependent/subordinate/purpose clause. Functions adverbially, describing why "he speaks" (purpose). ἵνα γινώσκωσιν τὸν ἀληθινόν 2011%12&Bible>&(BibleGT.org).&All&rights&reserved. Permission&granted&for&individual&use&or&classroom&use,&with&this©right&noEce. Dependent/subordinate/result clause. Functions adverbially, describing why "he speaks" (result). καὶ ὣστε στῆναι αὐτούς Dependent/subordinate/reason clause. Functions adverbially, describing why "they stand" (reason). ὅτι ἀγαπῶσιν τὸν θεόν