Greek
Noun Cases and Declensions
What is meant by CASE?
Adapted from English Grammar for
Students of Latin by Norma Goldman and
Ladislas Szymanski. Olivia and Hill Press,
1993
Some examples from Greek, Hansen &
Quinn, Fordham Univ. Press, 1978
Case is the change in the form of a word to show how it functions within a sentence. This
change of form usually takes place in the ending of the word; sometimes the whole word
changes.
In English, word order lets us know the function of nouns within a sentence.
Examples:
The girl sees the bull on the shore.
the girl is seeing, and the bull is what she sees
The bull sees the girl on the shore.
the bull is seeing, and the girl is whom it sees
There are three cases in English:
1. The nominative or subjective for the person or thing doing the action of the verb.
2. The objective case for the person or thing receiving the action of the verb.
a. direct object
b. indirect object
c. objects of prepositions
3. The possessive case to indicate ownership.
Ex.: The girl sees the farmer’s bull on the shore.
The possesive case is the only one in English in which the noun changes: farmer to farmer’s.
Pronouns in English show case changes:
_I_
subjective
They
subjective
know them.
objective
know me.
objective
In Greek
Word order alone rarely shows the function of nouns within a sentence. The different
endings indicate the changes called case. As long as the nouns are put in their proper
case, the words in the sentence can be moved around in a variety of ways without
changing the essential meaning of the sentence.
o ( (/Omhroj paideu/ei to\n a)delfo/n.
Homer educates the [his] brother.
o ( (/Omhroj dw=ra t%+= a)delf%+= pe/mpei.
Homer
gifts
to his brother sends.
o ( (/Omhroj to\n a)delfo/n e)n a)gor# paideu/ei.
Homer
his brother
in the marketplace educates
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Greek nouns, pronouns, and adjectives have five main cases, each reflecting a different
function of the word in a sentence. Each case also has a singular and a plural form. There are
three systems or types of declensions: the o-declension, the a-declension, and the consonant
declension.
Greek CASES:
1. Nominative - the case used for the subject of a sentence and for predicate words (with
verb ‘to be’: ei)mi/, ei)=, e)sti /(v), e)sme/n, e)ste/, ei)si(v)/).
(=)
e)sti/ - linking verb
Zeus is a god.
The goddess has a plan.
qeo/j - complement
h( qea Boulhn e/ ) x ei.
o( Zeu/ j qeo/ j e) s ti./
subject
g nominative case in Greek.
subject
predicate noun
gnominative cases in Greek
2. Genitive - this form shows possession, parts of a whole, and is the object of certain preps.
The general’s tent. h( tou= strathgou= skhnh/
possessor
g
The Athenians’ laws oi( tw= n ) Aqhnai/ w n no/ m oi
genitive case in Greek.
3. Dative - this form is used for indirect objects, objects of certain prepositions, etc.
They are not entrusting the books to the poet.
indirect object
g
t%= poiht$= ta\ bibli/a ou)k e)pitre/pousin.
dative case in Greek.
4. Accusative - this form is used for most direct objects and for objects of certain prepositions.
They are not entrusting the books to the poet.
direct object
g
t%= poiht$= ta\ bibli/a ou)k e)pitre/pousin.
accusative case in Greek
5. Vocative - this form is used for direct address. The plural vocative looks like the nom. pl.
NOTE BENE: In Greek there is also a dual case, singular and plural. It is used for pairs. When one speaks about eyes,
ears, a set of twins, hands, or anything that involves two, the dual is used.
DECLENSIONS:
Greek nouns are divided into three main groups called: the 1st-declension (a/h), the 2nd-declension (o), and the consonent declension (even though it includes some vowels).
The genitive singular minus the genitive ending gives you the stem to which the case endings of
each declension are attached. To find this stem, drop the genitive ending from the
genitive singular form.
Declension
Nominitive sing.
Genitive singular
Stem
English
1st-decl.
yuxh
h/
yuxh=
h= j
yux-
“soul”
2nd-decl.
logo/
o/ j
logou=
ou=
log-
“word”
Consonant decl.
klw//y
klwpo/
o/ j
klwp-
“theif”
The dictionary entry for nouns gives the nominative, genitive, and article which shows the
gender o(, h(, to\.
Ex.:
yuxh,/ yuxh=j, h( soul, spirit, breath, life
logo/j, logou=, o(, word, reason, story...
klw/y, klwpo/j, o(, thief
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