A Short Grammar of Classical Greek: Part III, Syntax - I. Agreement

114. 1. A neuter plural subject generally takes a singular verb.

Καλά ἦν τὰ σφάγια the omens were favorable.

Τὰ μεγάλα δῶρα τῆς τύχης ἔχει φόβον.

2. Two subjects or a dual subject have their predicate sometimes in the dual, sometimes in the plural.

Δύο καλώ τε κἀγαθὼ ἄνδρε τέθνατον or τεθνᾶσιν.

Κριτίας καὶ Ἀλκιβιάδης ἐδυνάσθην τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν κρατεῖν.

3. Observe the idiomatic agreement between the Greek and the English in cases where a collective noun in the singular may take a plural verb.

Μέρος τι ἀνθρώπων οὐχ ἡγοῦνται θεούς.

Ἀθηναίων τὸ πλῆθος οἴονται Ἵππαρχον τύραννον ὄντα ἀποθανεῖν.

4. A masculine or feminine subject often takes for its predicate the neuter singular of an adjective, which is then used as a noun. Compare Turpe senex miles.[^1]

Ἀθάνατον ἡ ψυχή the soul is (an) immortal (being).

Πονηρὸν ὁ συκοφάντης a sycophant is a scoundrel.

Δεινὸν οἱ πολλοί the mob is a terror.

5. The gender and number of a pronominal subject or object agree with the predicate noun. Compare ea firma amicitia est.

Αὕτη ἄλλη πρόφασις ἦν. Οὗτοι νόμοι εἰσίν.

Καὶ οἶμαι, ἔφη, ἐμὴν ταύτην πατρίδα εἶναι.

But sometimes also: Ἔγωγέ φημι ταῦτα φλυαρίας εἶναι.

Note. - Definitions require the neuter of the pronoun, which is then the predicate, and not the subject, of the sentence.

Τί φῄς ἀρετὴν εἶναι; Quid dicis virtutem esse?

115. 1. Adverbial phrases which signify place, situation, time, manner, succession, or a state of mind, are expressed in Greek by adjectives agreeing with the word (subj. or obj.) to which they relate. Compare

Socrates primus hoc docuit.    Socrates venenum laetus hausit.

Σκηνοῦμεν ὑπαίθριοι ἐν τῇ τάξει in the open air.

Τριταῖοι ἐκ Σπάρτης ἐγένοντο ἐν τῇ Ἀττικῇ on the third day.

Ἐνταῦθα προτέρα Κύρου εἰς Ταρσοὺς ἀφίκετο before Cyrus.

Ἑκοῦσαι αἱ πόλεις χρήματα συνεβάλλοντο willingly.

Κατέβαινον εἰς τὰς κώμας ἤδη σκοταῖοι it was already dark when ...

2. To denote the highest possible degree of anything, ὡς, ὅτι, ἢ or οἷος may be added to the superlative. E.g. ὡς τάχιστα quam celerrime, as quickly (soon) as possible; ἄνδρας ὅτι πλείστους as many men as possible; χωρίον οἷον χαλεπώτατον almost impregnable.

Δεῖ ὅτι μάλιστα εὐμαθεῖς εἶναι τοὺς νέους.