1.14: Third Declension Nouns
Module 13
© 2021 Philip S. Peek, CC BY 4.0 https://doi.org/ 10.11647/OBP.0264. 14
Nouns
Nouns in Greek are defined just as nouns in English; but the way they create meaning is different. As in English, Greek nouns ( ὀνόματα ) refer to people, places, things, and ideas. Greek nouns have endings. English nouns can change form when they show possession, as in Jada’s book , where the ’s is added as a suffix and indicates that the book belongs to Jada. English nouns also change form when expressing the plural: two suns , three oxen , four mice . The endings on Greek nouns, as we have seen previously, create the same meanings that English does through form change, word order, and the use of prepositional phrases.
Greek Nouns
In Greek there are three noun declensions: first, second, and third. In this text, the third declension, also called the consonant declension, is taught first because it offers the most complexity. Once you understand the third declension, it is easier for you to learn the remaining two declensions. Learning the third declension first also reinforces why the stem, the base to which endings are attached, is taken from the genitive singular. Also by learning the third declension before the other two, you will be less inclined to match or rhyme noun and adjective endings when you modify a noun with an adjective.
Noun Sets 1–10
Since each Greek noun takes only one set of endings, this text numbers the endings by sets 1–10. The aim in doing so is to make clear the correspondence between one noun to which one set of endings is added. It is also a helpful way to refer to the endings when identifying nouns and discussing things like case and function. The noun sets learned in this module are sets 9 and 10, so numbered to maintain consistency across the traditional order of nouns of the first, second, and third declension.
Noun Gender
Most nouns have only one gender: masculine, feminine, or neuter. Sometimes the noun’s gender matches biological sex: ὁ πατήρ father is masculine and ἡ μήτηρ mother is feminine. At other times noun gender and biological sex do not match: the noun τὸ παιδίον child is neuter in gender. Occasionally the same noun may have a common gender that depends upon biological sex: ὁ θεός god ; ἡ θεός goddess ; ἡ παῖς girl ; ὁ παῖς boy ; ἡ ἵππός mare ; ὁ ἵππος stallion . Τ he article, ὁ , ἡ , τό , indicates the noun’s gender. ὁ indicates that the noun is masculine. ἡ indicates that the noun is feminine and τό that it is neuter.
Third Declension Nouns
All third declension nouns have a stem that ends in a consonant or an iota ι - , or upsilon υ - . All third declension nouns use the same endings but for some nouns the ending is disguised by ablaut, contraction, or quantitative metathesis. In this module you learn the endings and also how to recognize them when they are disguised. Unlike nouns of the first and second declension, the nominative singular of nouns of the third declension varies. For this reason a blank, --- , is written for the nominative singular of these nouns. The gender of third declension nouns that take set 9 endings is either masculine or feminine. The gender of nouns that take set 10 endings is always neuter. The gender of third declension subtype nouns is indicated within each paradigm.
Identifying Noun Sets
As already noted, the article, roughly equivalent to the English the , tells you the gender of each noun. Most nouns have one gender, though occasionally a noun can have the common gender of either feminine or masculine, i.e. it can be either feminine or masculine. In lexical entries like the ones below, the nominative singular form comes first. The genitive singular comes second and the article third. From these three pieces of information you can identify each noun’s gender and you can identify what set of endings any noun has. Remember that each noun has only one ending set. By the end of Part I of the 21st-Century series you will have learned 10 noun sets found in three noun declensions.
|
Nominative |
Genitive |
Article |
Gender |
Set # |
English Equivalent |
|
αἴξ |
αἰγός |
ὁ or ἡ |
masc. or fem. |
9 |
goat |
|
ἄρχων |
ἄρχοντος |
ὁ |
masc. |
9 |
ruler |
|
ἐλπίς |
ἐλπίδος |
ἡ |
fem. |
9 |
hope |
|
σῶμα |
σώματος |
τό |
neut. |
10 |
body |
|
φύλαξ |
φύλακος |
ὁ |
masc. |
9 |
guard |
|
χάρις |
χάριτος |
ἡ |
fem. |
9 |
grace |
Declining Third Declension Nouns
To decline third declension nouns, first get the stem by removing the genitive singular ending - ος . What remains is the stem , the base of the word the ending is joined to. To the stem add the endings from either Set 9 or Set 10, in accordance with what set the noun belongs to.
|
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|
|
- For Set 9 the nominative singular varies, hence the blank, --- .
- The feminine and masculine accusative plural ending is - ας . Contrast it with the ending - ᾱς of the first declension, which you will learn soon.
- In Set 10 the blank, --- , indicates that the singulars of the nominative, accusative, and vocative vary. For all neuter nouns, the singulars of these three cases are identical to one another. The plurals of these three cases are also identical to one another and the ending is an alpha, - α . Use context to determine what case each is in.
Consider the following third declension nouns and note how each declines.
|
φύλαξ , φύλακος ὁ guard |
* σῶμα , σώματος τό body |
|
αἴξ , αἰγός ὁ or ἡ goat |
χάρις , χάριτος ἡ grace |
|
ἐλπίς , ἐλπίδος ἡ hope |
For each noun, above the first form is the nominative singular, the second is the genitive singular, and the third is the article.
|
Singular |
||||||
|
N |
αἴξ |
ἄρχων |
ἐλπίς |
σῶμα |
φύλαξ |
χ άρις |
|
A |
αἶγα |
ἄρχοντα |
ἐλπίδα |
σῶμα |
φύλακα |
χάριν |
|
G |
αἰγός |
ἄρχοντος |
ἐ λπίδος |
σώματος |
φύλακος |
χάριτος |
|
D |
αἰγί |
ἄρχοντι |
ἐλπίδι |
σώματι |
φύλακι |
χάριτι |
|
V |
αἴξ |
ἄρχον |
ἐλπί |
σῶμα |
φύλαξ |
χά ρι |
|
Plural |
||||||
|
N |
αἶγες |
ἄρχοντες |
ἐλπίδες |
σώματα |
φ ύλακες |
χάριτες |
|
A |
αἶγας |
ἄρχοντας |
ἐλπίδας |
σώματα |
φύλακας |
χάριτας |
|
G |
αἰγῶ ν |
ἀρχόντων |
ἐλπίδων |
σωμάτων |
φυλάκων |
χαρ ίτων |
|
D |
αἰξί ( ν ) |
ἄρχουσι ( ν ) |
ἐλπίσι ( ν ) |
σώ μασι ( ν ) |
φύλαξι ( ν ) |
χάρισι ( ν ) |
|
V |
αἶγες |
ἄρχοντες |
ἐλπί δες |
σώματα |
φύλακες |
χάριτες |
|
Singular |
||||||
|
N |
α ἴξ |
ἄρχων |
ἐλπίς |
σῶμα |
φύλαξ |
χάρις |
|
G |
αἰγός |
ἄρχοντος |
ἐλπίδος |
σώματος |
φύλακος |
χ άριτος |
|
D |
αἰγί |
ἄρχοντι |
ἐλπίδι |
σώματι |
φύ λακι |
χάριτι |
|
A |
αἶγα |
ἄρχοντα |
ἐλπίδα |
σῶ μα |
φύλακα |
χάριν |
|
V |
αἴξ |
ἄρχον |
ἐλπί |
σῶμα |
φύλαξ |
χάρι |
|
Plural |
||||||
|
N |
αἶγες |
ἄρχοντες |
ἐλπίδες |
σώματα |
φύλακες |
χάριτες |
|
G |
αἰγῶν |
ἀρχόντων |
ἐλπίδων |
σωμάτων |
φυλάκων |
χαρίτων |
|
D |
αἰξί ( ν ) |
ἄρχουσι ( ν ) |
ἐλπίσι ( ν ) |
σώμασι ( ν ) |
φύλαξι ( ν ) |
χάρισι ( ν ) |
|
A |
αἶγας |
ἄρχοντας |
ἐλπίδας |
σώματα |
φύλακας |
χάριτας |
|
V |
αἶγες |
ἄρχοντες |
ἐλπίδες |
σώματα |
φύλακες |
χάριτες |
- Accent is persistent except that nouns with monosyllabic stems accent the ultima in the genitive and dative, singular and plural. The genitive plural has a circumflex, such as αἰγῶν . The others have an acute.
- All 3rd declension nouns end in alpha in the accusative singular unless their stem ends in - ιτ , - ιδ , or, - ιθ and the iota is not accented. In this case the final consonant is dropped and the ending, - ν , is added. Contrast ἐλπίς , ἐλπίδα with χάρις , χ άριν .
- The vocative singular is the same as the nominative singular if the nominative singular ends in - ξ or - ψ or if it ends in - ν or - ρ and accents the ultima. Otherwise the vocative singular consists of the stem minus the final tau, delta, or theta ( τ , δ , θ ), called dentals because the tongue touches the teeth when making the sounds that these consonants represent. Examples of the former are αἴξ and λιμή ν and of the latter are ἐλπί . In all neuter nouns the vocative singular is the same as the nominative singular.
-
The dative plural ending
–
σι
(
ν
)
is combined with third declension stems ending in consonants in accordance with the following:
π , β , φ
+
- σι
=
- ψι
κ , γ , χ
+
- σι
=
- ξι
τ , δ , θ
+
- σι
=
- σι
ν
+
- σι
=
- σι
σ
+
- σι
=
- σι
- αντ -
+
- σι
=
- ᾱσι
- εντ -
+
- σι
=
- εισι
- οντ -
+
- σι
=
- ουσι
λ
+
- σι
=
- λσι (no change)
ρ
+
- σι
=
- ρσι (no change)
-
When
-
αντ
-, -
εντ
-,
and
-
οντ
-
are combined with the ending
-
σι
, the nu and tau,
-
ντ
-
, drop out and a long vowel or diphthong appears by a process called compensatory lengthening. A diphthong that results from compensatory lengthening is called a spurious diphthong. Look carefully at the following dative plural nouns:
αἰγσί ( ν )
becomes
αἰξί ( ν )
ἄ ρχοντσι ( ν )
becomes
ἄρχουσι ( ν )
ἐλπίδσι ( ν )
becomes
ἐλπίσι ( ν )
σώματσι ( ν )
becomes
σώμασι ( ν )
φύλακσι ( ν )
becomes
φύλαξι ( ν )
χάριτσι ( ν )
becomes
χάρισι ( ν ),
noting how the letters combine and the form changes.
Four Subtypes of Third Declension Nouns
All third declension nouns use the same endings, but for some nouns the ending has been disguised by ablaut, contraction, or quantitative metathesis. Do not plan on memorizing each of the four subtypes, though you may find memorizing the contractions helpful. Do memorize the endings of sets 9 and 10. Use your knowledge of the endings of sets 9 and 10 to recognize the subtypes and case of each noun.
1) Subtype 1 Nouns with Stem Ending in ρ- or ερ- (ablaut ) :
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- μήτηρ uses two stems: μητρ - and μητερ - . Ablaut (vowel variation) in a stem is observed in these two forms: μήτηρ and μητερ - . Ablaut (vowel variation) is a regular feature of languages. Note the vowel variation in these forms: sing, sang, sung and ring, rang, rung .
- In the genitive and dative singular of μήτηρ , the stem is monosyllabic and so the accent shifts to the ultima: μητρός and μητρί .
- In the genitive and dative singular of ἀ v ήρ , the stem is monosyllabic and so the accent shifts to the ultima: ἀνδρός , ἀνδρί , and ἀνδρῶν .
- In the dative plural the rho - ρ - , has expanded to - ρα -.
- Nouns that end in - ηρ , like θυγάτηρ , πατήρ , and γαστ ήρ , decline like μήτηρ not ἀ v ήρ , whose stem differs slightly.
-
Compare and contrast these Subtype 1 Nouns with the noun
σωτήρ
savior
, noticing that it has one stem,
σωτ
ήρ
.
N
σωτήρ
σωτῆρες
A
σωτῆρα
σωτῆρας
G
σωτῆρος
σωτήρων
D
σωτῆρι
σωτῆρσι ( ν )
V
σωτήρ
σωτῆρες
N
σωτ ήρ
σωτῆρες
G
σωτῆρος
σωτήρων
D
σωτ ῆρι
σωτῆρσι ( ν )
A
σωτῆρα
σωτῆρας
V
σωτήρ
σωτῆρες
2) Subtype 2 Nouns with Stem Ending in σ- (ablaut , contraction, and disappearance of intervocalic sigma , -σ-):
Neuter Nouns Ending in – ος : γένος race
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
γέν ος |
γέν εα , γέν η ( εσα ) |
|
A |
γέν ος |
γέν εα , γέν η ( εσα ) |
|
G |
γέν εος , γέν ους ( εσος ) |
γεν έων , γεν ῶν ( εσων ) |
|
D |
γέν ει ( εσι ) |
γέν εσι ( ν ) ( εσσι ( ν )) |
|
V |
γέν ος |
γέν εα , γέν η ( εσα ) |
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
γέν ος |
γέν εα , γέν η ( εσα ) |
|
G |
γέν εος , γέν ους ( εσος ) |
γεν έων , γεν ῶν ( εσων ) |
|
D |
γέν ει ( εσι ) |
γέν εσι ( ν ) ( εσσι ( ν )) |
|
A |
γέν ος |
γέν εα , γέν η ( εσα ) |
|
V |
γέν ος |
γέν εα , γέν η ( εσα ) |
- The stems are γενοσ - and γενεσ -.
- The letters in parentheses indicate where intervocalic sigma has dropped out: εσσι > - εσι , etc.
- In the Ionic dialect after sigma dropped out the vowels did not contract.
- In the Attic dialect after sigma dropped out the vowels did contract: εα > η ; εο > ου ; εω > ω . For a list of contractions that occurred, see CGCG 1.63.
- Similar nouns are ἄλγος pain; ἔπος word ; ἔτος year ; κράτος might ; and τεῖχος wall .
Neuter Nouns Ending in – ας : γῆ ρας , old age
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
γῆρ ας |
γήρ αα , γήρ ᾱ ( ασα ) |
|
A |
γῆρ ας |
γήρ αα , γήρ ᾱ ( ασα ) |
|
G |
γήρ αος , γήρ ως ( ασος ) |
γηρ άων , γηρ ῶν ( ασων ) |
|
D |
γήρ αϊ , γήρ ᾳ ( ασι ) |
γήρ ασι ( ν ) ( ασσι ( ν )) |
|
V |
γῆρ ας |
γήρ αα , γήρ ᾱ ( ασα ) |
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
γῆρ ας |
γήρ αα , γήρ ᾱ ( ασα ) |
|
G |
γήρ αος , γήρ ως ( ασος ) |
γηρ άων , γηρ ῶν ( ασων ) |
|
D |
γήρ αϊ , γήρ ᾳ ( ασι ) |
γήρ ασι ( ν ) ( ασσι ( ν )) |
|
A |
γῆρ ας |
γήρ αα , γήρ ᾱ ( ασα ) |
|
V |
γῆρ ας |
γήρ αα , γήρ ᾱ ( ασα ) |
- The stem is γηρασ -.
- The letters in parentheses indicate where intervocalic sigma has dropped out.
- In the Ionic dialect after sigma dropped out the vowels did not contract.
- In the Attic dialect after sigma dropped out the vowels did contract: αα > ᾱ ; αϊ > ᾳ ; αο > ω ; αω > ω . For a list of contractions that occurred, see CGCG 1.63.
- The noun γέρας gift of honor declines like γῆρας .
Feminine and Masculine Nouns Ending in ης -: τριήρης trireme
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
τριήρ ης |
τριήρ εες , τρι ήρ εις ( εσες ) |
|
A |
τριήρ εα , τριήρ η ( εσα ) |
τριήρ εας , τριήρ εις ( εσας ) |
|
G |
τριήρ εος , τριήρ ους ( εσος ) |
τριηρέ ων , τριήρ ων ( εσων ) |
|
D |
τριήρ ει ( εσι ) |
τριήρ εσι ( ν ) ( εσσιν ) |
|
V |
τριῆρ ες |
τριήρ εες , τριήρ εις ( εσες ) |
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
τριήρ ης |
τριήρ εες , τριήρ εις ( εσες ) |
|
G |
τριήρ εος , τριήρ ους ( εσος ) |
τριηρέ ων , τριήρ ων ( εσων ) |
|
D |
τριήρ ει ( εσι ) |
τριήρ εσι ( ν ) ( εσσιν ) |
|
A |
τριή ρ εα , τριήρ η ( εσα ) |
τριήρ εας , τριήρ εις ( εσας ) |
|
V |
τριῆρ ες |
τριήρ εες , τριήρ εις ( εσες ) |
- The stem is τριηρεσ - .
- The letters in parentheses indicate where intervocalic sigma has dropped out.
- In the Ionic dialect after sigma dropped out the vowels did not contract.
- In the Attic dialect after sigma dropped out the vowels did contract: εα > η ; εε > ει ; εο > ου ; εω > ω .
Proper Nouns Ending in ης -: Σωκράτης Sokrates
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
Σωκράτ ης |
Σωκράτ εες , Σωκράτ εις ( εσες ) |
|
A |
Σωκράτ εα , Σωκράτ η , Σωκράτ ην ( εσα ) |
Σωκράτ εας , Σωκράτ εις ( εσας ) |
|
G |
Σωκράτ εος , Σωκράτ ους ( εσος ) |
Σωκράτέ ων , Σωκράτ ων ( εσων ) |
|
D |
Σωκράτ ει ( εσι ) |
Σωκρά τ εσι ( ν ) ( εσσιν ) |
|
V |
Σωκράτ ες |
Σωκράτ εες , Σωκρ άτ εις ( εσες ) |
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
Σωκράτ ης |
Σωκράτ εες , Σωκράτ εις ( εσες ) |
|
G |
Σωκράτ εος , Σωκράτ ους ( εσος ) |
Σωκράτέ ων , Σωκράτ ων ( εσων ) |
|
D |
Σωκράτ ει ( εσι ) |
Σωκράτ εσι ( ν ) ( εσσιν ) |
|
A |
Σωκράτ εα , Σωκράτ η , Σωκράτ ην ( εσα ) |
Σωκράτ εας , Σωκράτ εις ( εσας ) |
|
V |
Σωκράτ ες |
Σωκράτ εες , Σωκράτ εις ( εσες ) |
- The stem is Σωκρατεσ - .
- The form Σωκράτην occurs by analogy with the accusative singular of first declension nouns.
- The letters in parentheses indicate where intervocalic sigma has dropped out.
- In the Ionic dialect after sigma dropped out the vowels did not contract.
- In the Attic dialect after sigma dropped out the vowels did contract: εα > η ; εε > ει ; εο > ου ; εω > ω . For a list of contractions that occurred, see CGCG 1.63.
- The nouns Διογέ νης Diogenes , Περικλῆς Perikles , and Σοφοκλῆς Sophokles decline like Σωκράτης .
3) Subtype 3 Nouns with Stem Ending in ι- (ablaut , contraction, disappearance of intervocalic digamma, - ϝ -, quantitative metathesis ):
|
Feminine |
||
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
πόλι ς |
πόλι ες , πόλη ες , πόλ εις ( εϝες ) |
|
A |
πόλι v |
πόλι ας , πόλη ας , πόλ ῑς , πόλ εις |
|
G |
πόλι ος , πόλη o ς , πόλε ως |
πόλι ω v , πόλε ων ( εϝων ) |
|
D |
πόλι ι , πόλ ι , πόλη ι , πόλε ι ( εϝι ) |
πολίεσ σι (v), πόλε σι ( ν ), πόλι σι ( ν ) |
|
V |
πόλι |
πόλι ες , πόλη ες , πόλ εις ( εϝες ) |
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
πόλι ς |
πόλι ες , πόλη ες , πόλ εις ( εϝες ) |
|
G |
π όλι ος , πόλη o ς , πόλε ως |
πόλι ω v , πόλε ων ( εϝων ) |
|
D |
πόλι ι , πό λ ι , πόλη ι , πόλε ι ( εϝι ) |
πολί εσ σι (v), πόλε σι ( ν ), πόλι σι ( ν ) |
|
A |
πόλι v |
πόλι ας , πόλη ας , πόλ ῑς , πόλ εις |
|
V |
πόλι |
πόλι ες , πόλη ες , πόλ εις ( εϝες ) |
- The stems are πολεϝ -, πολι -, and πολη - . Note the ablaut (vowel variation).
- In the underlined vowels of the forms πόλ η o ς and πό λ εω ς , quantative metathesis (an exchange of vowel quantity) occurred.
- The letters in parentheses indicate where intervocalic digamma has dropped out.
- The accent of the form πόλεως reflects the accent of the earlier form πόλη o ς before quantitative metathesis occurred.
- Contractions occur in πόλει ( εϝι ) and πόλεις ( εϝ ες ): εϊ > ει ; εε > ει .
- The accents of the forms πόλιω v and πόλεων are likely by analogy with πόλεως .
- The accusative plural πόλεις is either a later form modelled on the form of the nominative plural πόλεις or is built on the stem πολε .
- In the Ionic dialect after digamma dropped out the vowels did not contract.
- In the Attic dialect after digamma dropped out the vowels did contract: εε > ει . For a list of contractions that occurred, see CGCG 1.63.
- The nouns δύναμις power , ὕβρις brutality , ποίησις poetry , λύσις release , πρᾶξις act , μάντις seer , and ὄφις serpent decline like πόλις .
4) Subtype 4 Nouns with Stem Ending in ηυ- or ηϝ- (contraction, disappearance of intervocalic digamma, - ϝ -, quantitative metathesis ):
|
Masculine |
||
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
βασιλ εύς ( ηυς ) |
βασιλ ῆες , βασιλ ῆς , βασιλ εῖς ( ηϝες ) |
|
A |
βασιλ ῆ α , βασιλ έα ( ηϝα ) |
βασιλ ῆας , βασιλ έᾱς later βασιλ εῖς ( ηϝας ) |
|
G |
βασιλ ῆος , βασιλ έως ( ηϝος ) |
βασιλ ήων , βασιλ έω v ( ηϝων ) |
|
D |
βασιλ ῆι , βασιλ εῖ ( ηϝι ) |
βασιλ εῦσι (v) ( ηυσι ( ν )) |
|
V |
βασιλ εῦ ( ηυ ) |
βασιλ ῆες , βασιλ ῆς , βασιλ εῖς |
|
S |
Pl |
|
|
N |
βασιλ ε ύς ( ηυς ) |
βασιλ ῆες , βασιλ ῆς , βασιλ ε ῖς ( ηϝες ) |
|
G |
βασιλ ῆος , βασιλ έως ( ηϝος ) |
βασιλ ήων , βασιλ έω v ( ηϝων ) |
|
D |
βασιλ ῆι , βασιλ εῖ ( ηϝι ) |
βασιλ εῦσι (v) ( ηυσι ( ν )) |
|
A |
βασιλ ῆα , βασιλ έ α ( ηϝα ) |
βασιλ ῆας , βασιλ έᾱς later βασιλ εῖς ( ηϝας ) |
|
V |
βασιλ εῦ ( ηυ ) |
βασιλ ῆες , βασιλ ῆς , βασιλ εῖς |
- The stems are βασιληυ - and βασιληϝ -.
- In βασιλεύς and βασιλ εῦσι (v) , the stem is shortened from βασιληυ - to βασιλεύ - .
- In the underlined vowels of the forms βασιλ ῆ o ς and βασιλ έω ς quantative metathesis (an exchange of vowel quantity) occurred.
- Intervocalic digamma, - ϝ - , has dropped out.
- In these instances where intervocalic digamma, - ϝ - , has dropped out, quantitative metathesis occurs - ηο > - εω ; - ηα > - εᾱ ; - ηω > - εω ; and - ηα > - εᾱ .
- Contractions occur in βασιλ εῖ ( ηϝι ), βασιλ ῆς ( ηϝες ), and βασιλ εῖς ( εϝες ): ηι > ῃ > ει ; ηες > ης ; εες > εις .
- The accusative plural βασιλεῖς is a later form modelled on the form of the nominative plural βασιλεῖς , which developed after βασιλῆς .
- In the Ionic dialect after digamma dropped out the vowels did not contract.
- In the Attic dialect after digamma dropped out the vowels did contract: ηι > ῃ > ει ; ηες > ης ; εες > εις . For a list of contractions that occurred, see CGCG 1.63.
- Similar nouns are ἱππεύς horserider , χαλκεύς metal-worker , Πρωτε ύς Proteus , Ἀχαρνεύς , Akharnian .
Practice Identifying Third Declension Nouns. For the nouns below, tell whether the noun takes set 9 endings, set 10 endings, or declines like one of the four subtypes of third declension nouns. Το succeed, you need to identify correctly the gender and the nominative and genitive singular, matching each with the correct set or subtype.
|
Noun |
Set or Subtype |
|
γυνή , γυναικός ἡ woman, wife |
set 9 |
|
δύναμις , δυνάμιος ( δυνάμηος , δυνάμεως ) ἡ power |
πόλις |
|
Ἕλλην , Ἕλληνος ἡ ὁ Greek |
set 9 |
|
ἔτος , ἔτεος ( ἔτους ) τό year |
γένος |
|
ἱππεύς , ἱππῆος ( ἱππέως ) ὁ knight, cavalryman |
βασιλεύς |
|
μέρος , μέρεος ( μέρους ) τό share, portion, part; limb |
γένος |
|
ὄνομα , ὀνόματος τό name |
set 10 |
|
πάθος , πάθεος ( πάθους ) τό suffering; experience; emotion |
γένος |
|
παῖς , παιδός ἡ ὁ child |
set 9 |
|
πατήρ , πατρός ὁ father |
μήτηρ |
|
πλῆθος , πλήθεος ( πλήθους ) τό great number |
γένος |
|
πρᾶγμα , πράγματος τό matter, thing, affair; problem |
set 10 |
|
πρᾶξις , πρά ξιος ( πράξηος , πράξεως ) ἡ action |
πόλις |
|
σῶμα , σώματος τό body |
set 10 |
|
τεῖχος , τείχεος ( τείχους ) τό wall ; (pl.) stronghold |
γένος |
|
τέλος , τέλεος ( τέλους ) τό end, boundary |
γένος |
|
φύσις , φύσιος ( φύσηος , φύσεως ) ἡ nature |
πόλις |
|
χάρις , χάριτος ἡ charm, grace, favor |
set 9 |
|
χρῆμα , χρήματος τό thing ; (pl.) wealth |
set 10 |
Practice Understanding Adjective and Noun Agreement. Pick the article that agrees in gender, case, and number with the nouns below. Note that to perform this exercise correctly you must know both the gender and the case of each noun. To determine a noun’s gender you may cut and paste the noun into the search bar of the PDF, you may look the noun up in the glossary in this text, you may use the online resource, Logeion Lexicon , or Wiktionary 1 or you may use any resource that gives you the correct gender of nouns. To determine the correct case, use your knowledge of stems and endings. Check your answers with those in the Answer Key .
|
Article that Agrees |
Noun |
Article that Agrees |
Noun |
|
ἀνήρ |
πάθει |
||
|
βασιλέα |
παῖς |
||
|
γένος |
πατήρ |
||
|
γυνή |
πλῆθος |
||
|
Δία |
πόλεως |
||
|
δυνάμεως |
πολίτης |
||
|
Ἕλληνος |
πρᾶγμα |
||
|
ἔτει |
σώμασι (ν) |
||
|
ἱππῆς |
τείχους |
||
|
μέρη |
φύσιν |
||
|
μητρός |
χάριτες |
||
|
ναυσί |
χειρῶν |
||
|
ὀνόμασι (ν) |
χρήματα |
Helen
Born to Leda and to Zeus, Helen has three siblings: Klytaimnestra, Kastor, and Polydeukes. Helen and Polydeukes (aka Pollux) are said to be the children of Zeus and Leda, the wife of Tyndareus, whom Zeus seduced after taking the form of a swan. Kastor and Klytaimnestra are the children of the mortals, Tyndareus and Leda. Helen is cited as the reason why the Greeks fought the the Trojan War, whose cause dates back to a time when the gods and goddesses were celebrating the wedding of the mortal Peleus to the goddess Thetis. All divinities were invited to the wedding except for Eris, the goddess of discord and strife. She attended anyway and threw a golden apple amidst the guests, announcing that it belonged to the most beautiful. Zeus’ wife Hera claimed the apple as did Athene, goddess of war and crafts, and Aphrodite, goddess of love. Each goddess thought she was the most beautiful and should be given the golden apple. Zeus turned the matter over to the Trojan prince, Paris (aka Alexandros) who presided over a beauty contest, referred to as the Judgment of Paris. Each goddess offered Paris a bribe. Hera offered him world dominion; Athene offered him martial excellence; and Aphrodite offered him Helen, the most beautiful woman in the world, though she was already married to the Greek king Menelaos. Paris chose Aphrodite and Helen. He sailed to Greece and took Helen from her home. She either went willingly, went against her will, or was sent to Egypt with a phantom Helen taking her place in Troy and in Paris’ arms. Menelaos and his brother Agamemnon assembled an army of Greeks, charged with going to Troy to take Helen back. In Euripides’ play, Helen ( Ἑλένη ), Helen has been in Egypt for the ten years of the Trojan War when her husband Menelaos arrives, shipwrecked on his journey home from Troy.
Practice Translating. Translate the sentences below, which are adapted from the prologue of Euripides’ Helen ( Ἑλένη ). Remember the meanings and functions of the cases presented in Module 7 . Nominative case endings are bolded; genitive endings are italicized; dative endings are highlighted; and accusative endings are underlined. Note that the third declension increases the number of possible endings for the nominative singular. Check your understanding with the translations in the Answer Key . Now go back and read each sentence two or three times, noticing with each rereading how much better your understanding of the sentence becomes. Make this a habit and you will improve quickly.
|
Case |
Ending |
Function |
|
Nominative |
- α , - αι , - ευς , - η , - ης , - ις , - ο , - ος |
subject of the verb |
|
Genitive |
- εως , - ης , - ου , - ος , - ους , - ων |
possession, dependence, object of a preposition |
|
Dative |
- ῃ , - ι , - οι , - οις , - ῳ |
indirect object of the verb; possession |
|
Accusative |
- α , - ας , - ε , - εα , - η , - ην , - ν , - ον , - ος |
object of verb or preposition and motion toward |
Ἑλένη: λόγ ος ὅτι Ζ εὺς κύκν ου μορφώματ α λαμβάνει καὶ Λήδ αν πέτεται εἰς ἐμ ὴν μητέρ α . ὄνομ ά δʼ ἐστι ἐμ οὶ Ἑλέν η καὶ ἃ δὲ πάσχω κακ ά , λέγω τ οῖς Ἑλλήν οις . ἔρχονται αἱ θε αὶ κάλλ ους πέρι εἰς Ἰδαῖ ον , Ἥρ α , Κύπρ ις τε παρθέν ος τε . αἱ θε αὶ μορφ ῆς ἐθέλουσι διαπεραίνειν κρίσι ν . Κύπρ ις νικάει καἰ ἐμ ὸν κ άλλ ος Ἀλέξανδρ ι δίδωσιν . ἐκ δὲ Ἰδαί ου λείπει Πάρ ις καὶ εἰς Σπάρτ ην ἥκει καὶ βούλεται ἐμ ὸν λέχ ος ἔχειν . Ἥρ α δὲ μέμφεται ὅ τ ’ οὐ νικάει τ ὰς θε ὰς καὶ ἐξανεμόει ἐμ ὰ Ἀλεξάνδρ ῳ λέχ η . Ἥρ α δὲ δίδωσι οὐχ ἐμ ὲ ἀλλʼ ὁμοιόει ἐμοὶ εἴδωλ ον καὶ οὐραν οῦ συντ ίθησιν ἄπο . τ ὰ δὲ Δι ὸς βουλεύματ α πόλεμ ον εἰσφέρει Ἑλλήν ων χθον ί καἰ Φρυξ ί . ὁ δὲ Ζ εὺς βούλεται ὄχλ ου βροτ ῶν πλήθ εος τε κουφίζειν μητέρ α χθόν α καὶ γνωτ ὸν τιθέναι Ἀχιλλ έα . λαμβάνει δέ ἐμ ὲ Ἑρμ ῆ ς καὶ νεφέλ ῃ καλύπτει καὶ εἰς οἶκ ον Πρωτ έως ἱδρύει .
Verbs
|
* βο ύλομαι want, prefer; wish, be willing |
κουφίζω be light; lighten, make light ‘ x’ in acc. of ‘ y’ in gen. ; lift up, raise |
|
διαπεραίνω bring to a conclusion, discuss |
* λαμβάνω take, receive, capture |
|
* δίδωμι give ; δίκην δίδωμι I pay the penalty ; δίδωμι χάριν I give thanks |
* λέγω say, tell, speak |
|
* εἰ μί be, be possible |
λείπω leave |
|
εἰσφέρω bring, bring upon |
μέμφομαι blame, criticize, find fault, complain |
|
* ἐθέλω ( θέλω ) wish, be willing |
νικάω win, conquer |
|
ἐξανεμόω fill with air, inflate |
ὁμοιόω make ‘x’ in acc . like ‘y’ in the dat . |
|
* ἔρχομαι come, go |
* πάσχω suffer |
|
* ἔχω have, hold; be able + inf.; καλῶς ἔχειν to be well |
πέτομαι fly |
|
* ἥκω have come, be present |
συντίθημι put together |
|
ἱδρύω place |
* τιθέναι to make |
|
καλύπτω hide |
* τίθημι put, place |
Adjectives, Nouns, Pronouns
|
Νοminative |
Genitive |
Dative |
Accusative |
English Equivalent |
|
ἅ |
ὧν |
οἷς |
ἅ |
what |
|
Ἀλέξανδρος |
Ἀλεξά νδρου |
Ἀλέξανδρι |
Ἀλέξανδρον |
Alexandros, Paris |
|
Ἀχιλλεύς |
Ἀχιλλέως |
Ἀχιλλεῖ |
Ἀχιλλέα |
Akhilleus |
|
* αὐτή |
αὐτῆς |
αὐτῇ |
αὐτήν |
she, her, hers |
|
* αὐτός |
αὐτοῦ |
αὐτῷ |
αὐτόν |
he, him, his |
|
βουλεύματα |
βουλευμάτων |
βουλεύμασι |
βουλεύματα |
will |
|
βροτοί |
βροτῶ ν |
βροτοῖς |
βροτούς |
mortals |
|
γνωτός |
γνωτοῦ |
γνωτῷ |
γνωτόν |
known, famous |
|
εἴδωλον |
εἰ δώλου |
εἰδώλῳ |
εἴδωλον |
image, idol |
|
Ἑλένη |
Ἑλένης |
Ἑλένῃ |
Ἑλένην |
Helen |
|
* Ἕλληνοι |
Ἑλλήνων |
Ἑλλήνοις |
Ἑλλήνους |
Greeks |
|
* ἐμ ά |
ἐμῶν |
ἐμοῖς |
ἐμά |
my |
|
* ἐμόν |
ἐμοῦ |
ἐμῷ |
ἐμόν |
my |
|
Ἑρμῆς |
Hermes |
|||
|
* Ζεύς |
Διός |
Διί |
Δία |
Zeus |
|
Ἥρα |
Ἥρας |
Ἥρᾳ |
Ἥραν |
Hera |
|
* θεαί |
θεῶν |
θεαῖς |
θεάς |
goddesses |
|
Ἰδαῖον |
Ἰδαίου |
Ἰδαίῳ |
Ἰ δαῖον |
Mt. Ida |
|
* κακά |
κακῶν |
κακοῖς |
κακά |
evils |
|
κάλλος |
κάλλεος |
κάλλει |
κάλλος |
beauty |
|
κρίσις |
κρίσεως |
κρίσει |
κρίσιν |
judgment, trial |
|
κύκνος |
κύκνου |
κύκνῳ |
κύκνον |
swan |
|
Κύπριδος |
Κύπριν |
|||
|
Λήδα |
Λήδας |
Λήδᾳ |
Λήδαν |
Leda |
|
λέχος |
λέχεος (- ους ) |
λέχει |
λέχος |
bed, marriage-bed |
|
λέχη |
λ έχων |
λέχεσι ( ν ) |
λέχη |
bed, marriage-bed |
|
* λόγος |
λόγου |
λόγῳ |
λόγον |
word, story |
|
* μήτηρ |
μητρός |
μητρ ί |
μητέρα |
mother |
|
μορφή |
μορφῆς |
μορφῇ |
μορφήν |
form, shape, beauty |
|
μορφώματα |
μορφωμάτων |
μορφώμασι |
μορφώματα |
form, shape |
|
νεφέλη |
νεφέλης |
νεφέλῃ |
νεφέλην |
cloud |
|
οἶκος |
οἴκου |
οἴκῳ |
ο ἶκον |
house, palace |
|
* ὄνομα |
ὀνόματος |
ὀνόματι |
ὄνομα |
name |
|
οὐρανός |
οὐρανοῦ |
οὐρανῷ |
οὐρανόν |
heaven, sky |
|
ὄχλος |
ὄχλου |
ὄχλῳ |
ὄχλον |
crowd, throng |
|
παρθένος |
παρθένου |
παρθένῳ |
παρθένον |
Athena, maiden |
|
Πάρις |
Πάριδος |
Πάριδι |
Πάριν |
Paris, Alexandros |
|
* πλῆθος |
πλήθεος (- ους ) |
πλήθει |
πλῆθος |
great number |
|
* πόλεμος |
πολέμου |
πολέμῳ |
πόλεμον |
war |
|
Πρωτεύς |
Πρωτέως |
Πρωτεῖ |
Πρωτέα |
Proteus |
|
Σπάρτη |
Σπάρτης |
Σπάρτῃ |
Σπάρτην |
Sparta |
|
Φρύγες |
Φρυγῶν |
Φρυξί ( ν ) |
Φρύγας |
Phrygians |
|
χθών |
χθονός |
χθονί |
χθόνα |
earth, ground |
- The asterisk indicates the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary, which you are to memorize
Practice Parsing Greek Sentences. Parse each word of the sentence found below. For nouns and pronouns, give case and function. For verbs, give person, number, tense, mood, and voice. For adverbs and conjunctions, identify them. For prepositional phrases, give the preposition and the preposition’s object. For adjectives, tell what noun they agree with in gender, number, and case.
τὰ δὲ Δι ὸς βουλεύματα πόλεμον εἰσφέρει Ἑλλή νων χθονί καἰ Φρυξί .
Check your answers with those in the Answer Key .
Module 13 Top 250 Vocabulary to be Memorized. Like learning the alphabet and endings, memorizing vocabulary is essential to acquiring language. The better you memorize the top 250 most frequently occurring vocabulary words the greater mastery of the language you will have.
Nouns
ἀνήρ , ἀνδρός ὁ man, husband
βασιλεύς , βασιλῆος ( βασιλέως ) ὁ king, chief
γυνή , γυναικός ἡ woman, wife
δύναμις , δυνάμιος ( δυνάμηος , δυνάμεως ) ἡ might, strength, power; force, army
Ἕλλην , Ἕλληνος ἡ ὁ Greek
νηῦς ( ναῦς ), νεός ( νεώς ) ἡ ship
παῖς , παιδός ἡ ὁ child
πατήρ , πατρός ὁ father
πόλις , πόλιος ( πόληος , πόλεως ) ἡ city
Verb
μέλλω be about to, be going to; be likely to + inf. (fut. inf. in Attic)
-
The noun
ναῦς
is similar to the third declension noun
βασιλεύς
.
N
νηῦς , ναῦς
νέες , νῆες
( νῆϝες < νᾶϝες )
A
νέα , ναῦν
( νᾱῦν )
νῆας , νέας , ναῦς
G
νεός , νεώς
( νηϝός < νᾱϝός )
νεῶν
( νηϝῶν < νᾱϝῶν )
D
νηΐ
( νηϝί < νᾱϝί )
νηυσί , ναυσί ( ν )
( νᾱυσί ( ν ))
V
ναῦ
νέες , νῆες
( νῆϝες < νᾶϝες )
|
N |
νηῦς , ναῦς |
νέες , νῆες |
( νῆϝες < νᾶϝες ) |
|
|
G |
νεός , νεώς |
( νηϝός < νᾱϝός ) |
νεῶν |
( νηϝῶν < νᾱϝῶν ) |
|
D |
νηΐ |
( νηϝί < νᾱϝί ) |
νηυσί , ναυσί ( ν ) |
( νᾱυσί ( ν )) |
|
A |
νέα , ναῦν |
( νᾱῦν ) |
νῆας , νέας , ναῦς |
|
|
V |
ναῦ |
νέες , νῆες |
( νῆϝες < νᾶϝες ) |