Akro
Akro
Courses Journal About

Greek · Grammars

A Short Grammar of Classical Greek: Part III, Syntax

A Short Grammar of Classical Greek with Tables for Repetition, by Adolf Kaegi, professor at Zurich University. Authorized English Edition for High Schools, Academies, and Colleges, by James A. Kleist, S. J. 2nd, revised, and enlarged edition. St. Louis, Mo. Published by B. Herder: 1905.

Syntax, Homeric dialect, and reference tables from Kaegi and Kleist's A Short Grammar of Classical Greek.

§131

IV. THE CASES

131. The Greek, like other kindred languages, originally had eight cases, but in course of time lost three of them: the ablative (whence?), the locative (where? when?) and the instrumental (whereby? wherewith?). The lost cases are made up for partly by the genitive, partly by the dative.

§132-141

A. THE ACCUSATIVE

132. The accusative is the case of the so-called direct or nearer object, which is either external to, and merely affected by, the action (ἐνίκησαν τοὺς πολεμίους), or internal to, and already implied in the meaning of, the action (τίνα νίκην ἐνίκησας;).

1. ACCUSATIVE OF EXTERNAL OBJECT.

133. Verbs that regularly take an external object in the accusative are called transitive, all others intransitive verbs. For verbs which are transitive in Greek, see the Lexicon.

Attention is here called to:

do good (harm) to one εὖ (κακῶς) ποιῶ τινα,

speak well (ill) of one εὖ (κακῶς) λέγω τινά,

escape the notice of λανθάνω τινά (secretly, unawares!),

swear, swear falsely by ὄμνυμι, ἐπιορκέω τινά.

Hence νὴ Δία yes, by Zeus; οὐ μὰ τοὺς θεούς no, by the gods.

am on my guard against, beware of φυλάττομαι τινα.

Οὐδεὶς ποιῶν πονηρὰ λανθάνει θεόν.

134. Even (originally) intransitive verbs, esp. such as express motion and are compounded with a preposition, are employed as transitives. E.g.

μένω wait, stay, remain, τινά, τί wait for, am in store for, expect,

σπουδάζω am eager, in earnest, τινά promote, further,

σπείδω press on, hasten, τί urge on, push,

πλέω sail, go by sea, τὴν θάλατταν sail (over) the sea.

In like manner (cp. the English to under-go dangers):

διαβαίνω ποταμόν, ὑφίσταμαι κινδύνους, ὑπερβαίνω ὄρος.

παραβαίνει τοὺς νόμους, διέρχομαι τὴν χώραν, παραπλέω νῆσον etc.

135. Verbs that signify to name, make, appoint and the like take two accusatives, one of the external object, the other a predicate accusative. In the passive both accusatives become nominatives.

Δαρεῖος Κῦρον σατράπην ἐποίησε. Κῦρος στρατηγὸς ἀπεδείχθη.

Page 113

COGNATE ACCUSATIVE.

136. The following verbs take two accusatives of the external object, one of the person, the other of the thing affected.

MeaningGreek
remind of, ask, question(ἀνα-)μιμνήσκω, ἐρωτάω
demand from, ask for, exactαἰτέω, ἀπαιτέω, πράττομαι
deprive of, rob ofἀφαιρέομαι, ἀποστερέω

τινά τι.

Ἀναμνήσω ὑμᾶς τοὺς τῶν προγόνων κινδύνους.

Κῦρον αἰτήσομεν πλοῖα καὶ ἡγεμόνα.

Τὸν πάντα δ’ ὄλβον ἦμαρ ἐν μ’ ἀφείλετο.

Note 1. - In the passive, the acc. of the person becomes the subject nominative, that of the thing remains unchanged: Αἴκης ἀπεστερήθη τὴν ἀρχήν.

Note 2. - For ἀποστερέω τινά τινος and ἀφαιρέομαι τινός τι see 147, 2. with note 2.

2. ACCUSATIVE OF INTERNAL OBJECT.

137. Sometimes a transitive or an intransitive verb takes an accusative of the internal object (accusative of content or cognate accusative). The object may be

1. a noun of kindred etymology or meaning. It is nearly always modified by an attribute (or a relative clause). The cognate accusative is more frequent in Greek than in English. (Figura etymologica. Compare: vitam iucundam vivere, to live a pleasant life.)

ταύτην τὴν στρατηγίαν στρατηγεῖν - κάλλιστον ἔργον ἐργάζεσθαι -

δουλείας δουλεύειν, οἷας οὐδ’ ἂν δοῦλος οὐδείς -

Μέγιστα καὶ ἀνοσιώτατα ἁμαρτήματα ἁμαρτάνουσιν.

κινδυνεύω τὸν ἔσχατον κίνδυνον - τὸν ἱερὸν πόλεμον στρατεύσαι -

ἄπιμεν, ἥνπερ ἤλθομεν, ἢ ἄλλην τινὰ ὁδόν;

Ζήσεις βίον κράτιστον, ἢν θυμοῦ κρατῇς.

Note. - The modifying attribute may be wanting in certain idiomatic phrases with pregnant meaning, as in φυλακὰς φυλάττειν to keep watch and ward, φόρον φέρειν to pay tribute, and some others.

2. or an attribute (sometimes a noun, sometimes the neuter of an adjective or pronoun) relating to a noun that is understood.

Ὀλύμπια νικᾶν = Ὀλυμπικὴν νίκην νικᾶν,

ἡδὺ γελᾶν to laugh heartily - δεινὰ ὑβρίζειν to commit an outrageous insult, πάντα νικᾶν, οὐδὲν φροντίζειν, τὰ ἄλλα ἐπιμελεῖσθαι etc.

Οὐκ ἔστιν ὅστις πάντ’ ἀνὴρ εὐδαιμονεῖ.

138. Many transitive verbs take two accusatives, one a cognate accusative, the other of the external object. See 133.

Βασιλεὺς ἡμᾶς τὰ ἔσχατα αἰκίζεται.

Λακεδαιμόνιοι πολλὰ τὴν πόλιν ἡμῶν ἠδικήκασι καὶ μεγάλα.

Page 114

SYNTAX.

Note. - In the passive the acc. of the external object becomes the subject nominative, the cognate acc. is retained:

ἄλλην εὐεργεσίαν εὐεργετηθείς - οὐδὲν ἀδικούμενος.

3. GREEK ACCUSATIVE - ACCUSATIVE OF EXTENT - ADVERBIAL ACCUSATIVE.

139. The accusative is sometimes somewhat loosely used after verbs that express a state or condition, as well as after adjectives, in order to limit their application. (Accus. of limitation; Greek Accus. Compare: os humerosque deo similis.)

κάμνω τὴν κεφαλήν suffer from my head, have a headache;

κάμνω τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς suffer from my eyes, have sore eyes.

(τὸ) ὄνομα, γένος, εἶδος by name, by birth - race, in appearance, in form.

(τὸ) εὖρος, ὕψος, βάθος, πλῆθος, κάλλος in breadth, ... (its) breadth being ...

Βέλτιόν ἐστι σώμα γ’ ἢ ψυχὴν νοσεῖν.

Τυφλὸς τά τ’ ὦτα τόν τε νοῦν τά τ’ ὄμματ’ εἶ.

140. The accusative of extent (of space and time) answers the questions: how far? (for) how long?

Τῆς Ἑλλάδος οὐ μεῖον ἢ μύρια στάδια ἀπεῖχον.

Ψευδόμενος οὐδεὶς λανθάνει πολὺν χρόνον.

Note 1. - τριάκοντα ἔτη γεγονώς triginta annos natus 30 years old.

and: ἐνάτην ἡμέραν (this being the ninth day =) eight days ago (before).

Note 2. - The terminal accusative without a preposition (whither?) is found only in poetry.

In prose a preposition must be used; hence only εἰς Ἀθήνας Athenas.

141. Very many accusatives of content, of restriction and of extent have by frequent use become adverbs or adverbial phrases (Adverbial Acc.).

ExpressionMeaning
Οὐδένin no respect, not at all
τίin what respect? why?
πολύmuch, by far, multo
(τὰ) πάνταin all respects, in every way, in all
(τὸ) πρῶτον, (τὴν) πρώτηνin the first place, at first
μακράνfar, a long way
τίin any (some) respect, to some extent, at all
τἆλλαin other respects, for the rest
τίνα τρόπον; - τοῦτον τὸν τρόπονin what manner? in this manner, thus
τὸ πρίν, τὸ νῦνformerly; nowadays, at present
πολλάin many respects, often
τὰ πολλάfor the most part, generally

Page 115

THE GENITIVE.

ἀρχήν at all, at first, from the beginning,

τὸ λοιπόν for the rest, for the (in) future,

τὴν ταχίστην (ὁδόν) as soon as possible,

τὸ κατ’ ἐμέ, τὸ κατὰ τοῦτον as far as depends on me (him), as far as I am (he is) concerned. 199, 5.

πρόφασιν professedly, pretendedly, ostensibly.

Note. - For the acc. absolute see 203, 4.

§142-153

B. THE GENITIVE

142. The Greek Genitive is partly genitive proper and partly represents the original ablative (whence-case) which denotes the source of an action. This can be either material (separation - comparison - matter) or mental (cause).

1. THE GENITIVE PROPER.

143. The possessive genitive with nouns and adjectives, as also after εἶναι, γίγνεσθαι (to belong to, be owned by; to be the part, characteristic, in the power of; to betoken, give evidence of etc.) denotes the owner or author.

ἡ Κύρου στρατιά - τὸ τοῦ Σόλωνος, τὰ τῶν Ἑλλήνων etc.

ἱερὸς ὁ χῶρος τῆς Ἀρτέμιδος - Κίμων Μιλτιάδου, Περικλῆς ὁ Ξανθίππου. - ἀπόρων ἐστὶ καὶ ἀμηχάνων.

ἐν Ἅιδου (sc. τῇ οἰκίᾳ), εἰς Ἅιδου. Compare: at my brother’s.

Πενίαν φέρειν οὐ παντός, ἀλλ’ ἀνδρὸς σοφοῦ - but ἐμόν ἐστιν.

Compare: cuiusvis hominis est errare - but meum est.

144. The objective genitive, which denotes the object of an action or feeling, is used

1. with nouns which denote an action (compare cupiditas gloriae):

ἡ τῆς πατρίδος σωτηρία - ἡ ἐπιθυμία ἡδονῶν,

τὸ μῖσος Παυσανίου the hatred of (felt against) P. (subj. hatred of [felt by] Paus.),

βία τῶν πολιτῶν against the will of the citizens,

δι’ αἰσχύνην ἀλλήλων καὶ Κύρου from a sense of shame before.

2. with judicial verbs, nouns and adjectives that denote a charge or crime. E.g.

to accuse of, charge with αἰτιάομαι, γράφομαι τινά τινος.

to convict, detect one doing, catch in αἱρέω τινά τινος - ἁλίσκομαί τινος.

guilty of αἴτιος, ἀναίτιός τινος.

Ἐάν τις ἁλῷ τῆς κακώσεως τῶν γονέων, δεδέσθω.

3. with verbs and adjectives expressing the following notions (and their opposites):

Page 116

SYNTAX.

desire: ἐπιθυμέω, ἐράω, ἐφίεμαι, ὀρέγομαί τινος.

knowledge: ἔμπειρος, ἄπειρος, ἐπιστήμων τινός.

memory: μέμνημαι, μνήμων - ἐπιλανθάνομαι τινος.

concern: ἐπιμέλομαι, φροντίζω - ἀμελέω τινός,

μέλει μοι τινος - ἐπιμελής, ἀμελὴς τινος.

participation: κοινωνέω, μετέχω - μεταδίδωμί τινος.

power: ἄρχω, βασιλεύω - κύριος, ἐγκρατής τινος, see 148, 2.

plenty: ἐμπίμπλημι, πληρόω - πλήρης, μεστός, κενός τινος.

Ὁ γραμμάτων ἄπειρος οὐ βλέπει βλέπων.

Ἄνθρωπος ὢν μέμνησο τῆς κοινῆς τύχης.

4. after verbs that signify:

to seize, grasp, touch: λαμβάνομαι, ἅπτομαί τινος.

to cling: ἔχομαι, - hit, find: τυγχάνω τινός.

to obtain: λαγχάνω, - miss, lose: ἁμαρτάνω τινός.

to be mistaken, disappointed: ψεύδομαι, experience: πειράομαί τινος.

Ἐλαίβετο τῆς χειρὸς αὐτοῦ.

Ἐσφάλημεν τῆς δόξης. Πολλῶν κακῶν πεπειράμεθα.

Note. - With many of the verbs that belong to 3 and 4, the objective genitive is at the same time partitive.

145. 1. The partitive genitive is the genitive of the whole of which a part is taken. It has nearly always the predicate position (121). It is more frequent in Greek than in Latin, and may be used wherever there is an expressed or implied relation of whole to part.

τῶν ἀνθρώπων οἱ σοφοί - (but only οἱ θνητοὶ ἄνθρωποι) -

ὁ ἄριστος ἁπάντων - τίς ἡμῶν - οὐδεὶς αὐτῶν -

Θῆβαι τῆς Βοιωτίας - ποῦ γῆς; ubi terrarum? -

ὀψὲ τῆς ἡμέρας - εἰς τοῦθ’ ὕβρεως (eo vecordiae).

Ἀριστεὺς ἤθελε καὶ αὐτὸς τῶν μενόντων εἶναι.

2. Accordingly, the partitive genitive may be dependent upon any verb, if its action affects only a part and not the whole of the object. It follows, therefore, especially

a) verbs that signify to eat, to drink, to take, to taste, if only part of the food etc. is taken.

Τῶν κηρίων ὅσοι ἔφαγον, πάντες ἄφρονες ἐγίγνοντο.

Ὀλίγου σίτου ἐγεύσαντο. - but: Σωκράτης τὸ φάρμακον ἔπιεν.

b) verbs and adjectives that signify participation or fullness. See 144, 3.

Note 1. - καινόν τι (aliquid novi) [not: καινοῦ τι],

οὐδὲν ἀγαθόν (nihil boni) [not: οὐδὲν ἀγαθοῦ].

Page 117

THE GENITIVE.

Note 2. - When a partitive genitive depends on a numeral adjective, the latter agrees in gender with the genitive:

ὁ λοιπὸς τοῦ χρόνου - τῆς γῆς τὴν πολλήν - τοῦ σίτου τὸν ἥμισυν.

146. The genitive of quality is used almost exclusively with definite numbers to express size or age. An. 1, 2, 8.

Τριῶν ἡμερῶν ὁδόν - τεῖχος εὖρος εἴκοσι ποδῶν, ὕψος δὲ ἑκατόν -

Πρόξενος ἦν, ὅτε ἀπέθνῃσκεν, ἐτῶν ὡς τριάκοντα.

Note. - In other instances, quality is expressed by the Greek accusative. 139 sq.

2. THE GENITIVE WITH ABLATIVE FORCE.

147. The genitive of separation is used with verbs (and adjectives of kindred meaning) that signify

1. to separate, remove, free and the like.

Here belongs: φείδομαί τινος I spare.

Ἀπέχει ἡ Πλάταια τῶν Θηβῶν σταδίους ἑβδομήκοντα.

2. to deprive, be in want of, need and the like.

Note in particular: δεῖ μοί τινος I need something.

Ὁ μηδὲν ἀδικῶν οὐδενὸς δεῖται νόμου.

Note 1. - “I ask something of some one” means δέομαί τινός τι, if the thing asked for is expressed by a neuter adjective or pronoun. Otherwise, αἰτῶ with two accusatives is generally used.

E.g. Ὑμῶν δεόμεθα ταῦτα, but: Κῦρον ᾔτησαν μισθόν.

Note 2. See 136. - Ἀφαιρέομαι takes also τινός τι.

3. to begin and to cease:

ἄρχω I begin (what others continue): τοῦ λόγου open the discussion.

ἄρχομαι (I begin what I myself continue): τοῦ λόγου my speech.

ἄρχομαι ἀπό, ἐκ τινος from, with, at: ἀπὸ or ἐκ τῶν θεῶν.

παύω cause to stop, τινά τινος restrain, prevent; depose, divest (ἀρχῆς).

παύομαι, λήγω τινός quit, cease, desist from (ὀργῆς).

Πειρᾶσθε σὺν τοῖς θεοῖς ἄρχεσθαι παντὸς ἔργου.

Ἔπαυσαν οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι Τιμόθεον τῆς στρατηγίας.

4. to perceive, hear etc., to denote the person who is heard:

ἀκούω, μανθάνω, αἰσθάνομαι, πυνθάνομαι.

Ἀκούσεσθε ἐμοῦ πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν.

Note. - The thing that is heard etc. is generally put in the accusative. There is, however, a difference between

ἀκούω, αἰσθάνομαί τι I hear, learn, notice, perceive something; and

ἀκούω, αἰσθάνομαί τινος (persons or things): listen, harken, give heed, attend to, obey.

Ἀκούσαντες τὸν θόρυβον οὐχ ὑπέμειναν.

Ἄκουε πάντων, ἐκλέγου δ’ ἃ συμφέρει.

Νέος ὢν ἀκούειν τῶν γεραιτέρων θέλε.

Page 118

SYNTAX.

148. The genitive of comparison is used

1. with comparatives. It is equivalent to ἤ with a nom., acc., (gen.) or dat.

Σιγὴ ποτ’ ἐστὶν αἱρετωτέρα λόγου - cf. luce clarius.

Φιλεῖ δ’ ἑαυτοῦ πλέον οὐδεὶς οὐδένα.

Τοῦτο δ’ ἔξεστιν ἡμῖν μᾶλλον ἑτέρων.

2. with verbs and adjectives involving comparison, i.e. such as denote

superiority: περιγίγνομαι, στρατηγέω, ἡγέομαι (cf. 144, 3) etc.;

inferiority: ἡττάομαι - ὑστερέω etc., am (come) later than (too late for).

Ἄνθρωπος ξυνέσει ὑπερέχει τῶν ἄλλων. - Οὐδενὸς ὕστερος.

Παυσανίας εἰς Ἁλίαρτον ὑστέρησεν Λυσάνδρου.

Note. - κρατέω τινός: lord it over, am master of: κρατοῦσι πάντων οἱ θεοί;

but κρατέω τινά: conquer, vinco: ἐκρατήσαμεν μάχας Συρακοσίους.

ἡγέομαί τινος: am leader (head) of, command: στρατεύματος.

ἡγέομαί τινι: lead = guide, show the way to: ναυσίν.

149. The genitive of material denotes the material of which anything consists or is made, or the contents of anything. The Latin has here ex aliqua re.

παράδεισος παντοίων δένδρων, γέρρα δασείων βοῶν (β. here ox-hides).

Οἱ στέφανοι οὐκ ἴων ἢ ῥόδων ἦσαν, ἀλλὰ χρυσίου.

150. The genitive of cause, after verbs and adjectives denoting mental states, designates the person or thing that causes an emotion. (Comp. 159, 2.) Also: οἴμοι ταλαίνης o te miseram.

εὐδαιμονίζω, μακαρίζω τινά τινος count one happy for,

χαλεπαίνω, ὀργίζομαί τινί τινος am angry with one on account of.

Εὐδαιμονίζω ὑμᾶς τῆς ἐλευθερίας, ἧς κέκτησθε.

151. The genitive of price denotes the price after verbs (and adjectives) that signify:

to buy: ὠνέομαι - to sell: πωλέω, ἀποδίδομαί τί τινος,

to value, to think worthy: τιμάω, ἀξιόω - ἄξιος, ἀνάξιος.

Τῶν πόνων πωλοῦσιν ἡμῖν πάντα τἀγαθ’ οἱ θεοί.

Ἰητρὸς γὰρ ἀνὴρ πολλῶν ἀντάξιος ἄλλων worth as much as.

Thus: πολλοῦ magno, dear - ὀλίγου, μικροῦ parvo, cheap, πλείονος, ἐλαχίστου etc. - μισθοῦ mercede, for money, for a salary. - τιμᾶσθαί τι πολλοῦ magno aestimare.

Note especially the phrase: περὶ πολλοῦ (πλείονος, πλείστου, παντός, οὐδενὸς) ποιεῖσθαι magni, pluris, etc., facere, to make much of, etc., to value highly, etc.

Page 119

THE DATIVE.

152. The genitive of time stands

1. without an attribute, in answer to the question: at what time? (General statements of time!)

νυκτὸς καὶ ἡμέρας - θέρους aestate, χειμῶνος hieme,

τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ quotannis - τοῦ μηνός every month (117, 1. extr.).

2. with an attribute, in answer to the question: since or within what time?

πολλοῦ, πλείστου χρόνου for a long, very long time.

πέντε, δέκα ἡμερῶν within five, ten days.

153. The genitive is used with many verbs, one of whose component parts is a preposition that requires the genitive (162, 3). So especially with:

PrepositionExamples
ἀπό: 147ἀποτρέπω τινός turn away from, ἀπογιγνώσκω τινός despair of, ἀφίστημί τινος cause to revolt from, ἀφίσταμαί τινος revolt from,
ἐκ, ἐξ: 147ἐκβάλλω τινά τινος banish, ἐκπίπτω τινός am banished, ἐξίστημί τινά τινος remove, ἐξίσταμαί τινος depart, retire,
κατάmeaning “down upon, against,” in a hostile sense: καταγελάω τινός laugh at, καταφρονέω τινός despise, κατηγορέω “speak agt.” = accuse, καταψηφίζομαι “vote agt.,” condemn,
πρό: 148προαιρέομαί τινος prefer, προκρίνω τινός praefero alicui, προτίθημί τινος antepono alicui, προΐστημί τινος praeficio alicui etc.

Πολλῶν κατέγνωσαν θάνατον (κατεγνώσθη θάνατος) μηδισμοῦ.

§154-161

C. THE DATIVE

154. The Greek dative has two functions, one of its own (the dative proper), the other representing the Latin ablative (the dative of accompaniment, of means or instrument, the locative dative).

1. THE DATIVE PROPER OR OF INDIRECT OBJECT.

155. Very many (transitive as well as intransitive) verbs and adjectives[^1] take a dative of the person (or thing) to whom anything is done. Most of the verbs of this kind govern other cases in English.

Ἡ μωρία δίδωσιν ἀνθρώποις κακά.

Νόμοις ἕπεσθαι τοῖς ἐπιχωρίοις καλόν.

Οὐκ ἔστιν οὐδείς, ὅστις οὐχ αὐτῷ φίλος.

Note. - εὔχομαί τινί τι wish one something: ὑμῖν ἀγαθά.

εὔχομαι θεοῖς τι promise the gods: σωτήρια, δεκάτην,

[^1]: esp. βοηθέω τινί help, ἕπομαι, ἀκολουθέω follow, πιστεύω, πέποιθα trust, ἀπειλέω threaten, ὀργίζομαι am angry with (τινί), δουλεύω serve, πείθομαι obey, ἀρκέω suffice, help, πρέπει, προσήκει it becomes, συμφέρει it is of advantage.

Page 120

SYNTAX.

or implore the g. for, implore something from the g.: σωτηρίαν, σῴζειν.

φθονέω τινί τινος begrudge one something (150).

156. The dative of advantage (or disadvantage) designates the person (or thing) for whose sake, benefit or advantage (disadvantage) anything is done or exists, at whose disposal it is etc. So especially with εἶναι and γίγνεσθαι. Εἰσίν ἐμοί sunt mihi, I have.

Ἐνταῦθα Κύρῳ βασίλεια ἦν καὶ παράδεισος.

Ἕκαστος οὐχὶ τῷ πατρὶ καὶ τῇ μητρὶ μόνον γεγέννηται, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῇ πατρίδι.

157. Closely akin are the following varieties:

1. The ethical dative denotes in general the person who is morally or mentally interested in an action. In particular it designates

a) the person who desires the performance of an action.

Τί σοι μαθήσομαι; what do you want me to learn? - tell me, what . . .?

Μή μοι θορυβήσητε pray, do not raise an uproar.

Τούτῳ πάνυ μοι προσέχετε τὸν νοῦν I beg you to pay close attention to this.

b) the person whose feelings (joy, surprise, distress, impatience) are awakened by an action [often untranslatable].

Πῶς ἡμῖν ἔχεις; how is our darling? comp. quid mihi Celsus agit? = “How fares my Celsus?”

Ὦ τέκνον, ἦ βέβηκεν ἡμῖν ὁ ξένος; O daughter, is the stranger gone at length?

c) the person with whose mind or view anything accords.

Οὕτως ἔχει σοι ταῦτα such is the case - you understand?

Ἡμῖν δ’ Ἀχιλλεὺς ἄξιος τιμῆς in our opinion.

2. The dative of agent denotes the personal agent or author of an action. This dative:

is always used with the verb. adj. in -τέος: ἡμῖν ποιητέον nobis faciendum est, and

often with the passive, esp. the perf. pass. (instead of ὑπό with the genit.):

τὰ ὑμῖν πεπραγμένα your achievements - your policy.

Ἐὰν ἐκεῖ νικῶμεν, πάνθ’ ἡμῖν πεποίηται.

3. The dative of reference: “judging from the point of view of one who,” “with respect to one (doing),” “when or as one [you] . . .” Compare: in universum aestimanti.

Διαβάντι, εἰσπλέοντι (as you sail in), προϊοῦσιν. An. 3, 5, 15; 6, 4, 1; (Ὡς) συνελόντι εἰπεῖν. [3, 2, 22.

Τῷ γὰρ καλῶς πράσσοντι πᾶσα γῆ πατρίς.

Page 121

THE DATIVE.

Likewise γίγνεταί μοι βουλομένῳ, ἡδομένῳ, ἀχθομένῳ,

I am pleased with it, glad of it, vexed at it.

Ἐπανέλθωμεν, εἰ σοι ἡδομένῳ ἐστίν if you please.

Note. - In the phrase ὄνομά μοί ἐστι (mihi nomen est), the name is always put in the same case as ὄνομα: Ἐμοὶ δ’ ὄνομα κλυτὸν Αἴθων.

2. THE DATIVE OF UNION.

158. The dative of union and accompaniment denotes union, approach or concurrence, in both a friendly and a hostile sense. Here the English generally uses the preposition with.

1. It follows verbs, adjectives and adverbs to denote the person (or thing) with whom any sort of union (or its opposite) is entered into; thus esp.

GreekMeaning
διαλέγομαιspeak, converse
μάχομαι, πολεμέωfight, make war
ὁμολογέω, ὁμονοέωagree
κοινωνέω, μετέχω, μεταδίδωμι144, 3
ὁμιλέωassociate, mingle
σπένδομαιmake a treaty
κεράννυμι, μείγνυμιmix
ἅμα, ὁμοῦtogether with

χράομαί τινι utor aliquo familiariter, am intimate with.

Σοφοῖς ὁμιλῶν καὐτὸς ἐκβήσῃ σοφός. Ἅμα τῇ ἡμέρᾳ.

Θεῷ μάχεσθαι δεινόν ἐστι καὶ τύχῃ.

Note. - Πολεμεῖν and μάχεσθαι σὺν τινι or μετά τινος mean:

to fight with = in alliance with one, as one’s ally.

2. It denotes accompaniment of military forces (mostly without σύν):

ὀλίγῳ στρατεύματι ἕπεσθαι parva manu.

δισχιλίοις ὁπλίταις στρατεύειν.

3. It stands with αὐτός “together with,” - “even inclusive of,” and: ὁ αὐτός τινι, “the same as:”

Μίαν ναῦν λαμβάνουσιν αὐτοῖς ἀνδράσιν with all the crew - men and all.

Ἐν ταὐτῷ ᾖσθα τούτοις at the same place as these.

4. It is often qualified by σύν (163, 27): σὺν τοῖς θεοῖς.

3. THE INSTRUMENTAL USES OF THE DATIVE.

159. The dative (as instrumental case) is used like the ablative in Latin.

1. The dative of instrument denotes the means or instrument by which anything is accomplished. So especially with χράομαι: use, employ; treat, deal with; have as.

Οὐδεὶς ἔπαινον ἡδοναῖς ἐκτήσατο.

Χρῆται ἡμῖν βασιλεὺς ὅ,τι βούλεται.

Page 122

SYNTAX.

2. The dative of cause denotes the motive or cause. So esp. with verbs denoting emotion. See 150.

εὐνοίᾳ, ὕβρει, φθόνῳ, φόβῳ ποιεῖν τι out of kindness etc.

Ἀβουλίᾳ τὰ πολλὰ βλάπτονται βροτοί suffer harm because of.

Χαλεπῶς ἔφερον οἱ στρατιῶται τοῖς παροῦσι πράγμασιν.

Note. - Ἐπί is often added to this dative in connection with verbs denoting emotion.

θαυμάζειν ἐπὶ ποιήσει, μέγα φρονεῖν ἐπ’ ἀρετῇ etc.

Χαίρειν ἐπ’ αἰσχραῖς ἡδοναῖς οὐ χρὴ ποτε.

3. The dative of manner denotes manner or attendant circumstances. It is generally accompanied by an attribute.

τούτῳ τῷ τρόπῳ, οὐδενὶ τρόπῳ in this way, in no wise,

τῇδε, ταύτῃ, δρόμῳ, βίᾳ, κεραυνῷ, σιγῇ,

δημοσίᾳ publice, ἰδίᾳ privatim, κοινῇ jointly,

τῷ ὄντι, ἔργῳ in deed, in fact, really,

λόγῳ, προφάσει avowedly, professedly, pretendedly (141),

παντὶ σθένει with all one’s might, πάσῃ τέχνῃ καὶ μηχανῇ by every means and device.

Οἱ Λακεδαιμόνιοι κρίνουσι βοῇ καὶ οὐ ψήφῳ.

4. The dative of degree of difference with comparative expressions denotes measure or degree of difference: by how much ...

πολλῷ (μακρῷ) κρεῖττον much or by far better, ὀλίγῳ ἐλάττους τριακοσίων,

πολλοῖς ἔτεσιν ὕστερον many years later, πόλει λογίμῃ ἀσθενέστερος.

ὅσῳ - τοσούτῳ: quo - eo, the - the.

Note. - Besides πολλῷ etc., the adverbial accusative (141) is often used: πολὺ χείρων, ὀλίγον πρότερον, as always οὐδέν, τί and τι (never οὐδενί etc.).

4. THE LOCATIVE DATIVE.

160. The dative (as locative case), which corresponds to the Latin ablative of place and time, is used

1. as dative of place in answer to the question: “where?” In prose a preposition (ἐν, παρά, ὑπό) is always added - except in the adverbial expressions τῇδε, ταύτῃ, ᾗ - κύκλῳ - and in the locatives Μαραθῶνι, Ἀθήνησιν (51).

2. as dative of time in answer to the question: “when?”

a) without ἐν (dates or names of festivals!):

ταύτῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ, τετάρτῳ ἔτει,

τῷ ἐπιόντι μηνί, Παναθηναίοις, -

b) with ἐν (= during, within the space of, in the course of, see 152, 2):

Ἐν ἔτεσιν ἑβδομήκοντα ἐξῆν σοι ἀπιέναι.

Ἐν νυκτὶ βουλὴ τοῖς σοφοῖσι γίγνεται.

Page 123

PREPOSITIONS.

Note. - To be distinguished: τὴν ἡμέραν (140), ἡμέρας (152), τῆς ἡμέρας (152), τῇ ἡμέρᾳ and ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ.

161. The dative is used with verbs one of whose component parts is a preposition that requires the dative:

PrepositionExamples
σύν: 158σύνειμι am together with, συμμαχέω fight in alliance with, συμπονέω toil together with, συμπράττω work with, concur, help,
ἐν: 160ἔνειμι am in, at, ἐμμένω abide by, ἐμπίπτω fall into, ἐντυγχάνω come upon, find,
ἐπί: 158ἐπιβουλεύω plot against, ἐπιδίδωμι give in addition, ἐπιτίθεμαι attack, ἐπιτρέπω give up, commit;

less frequently after verbs compounded with παρά, ὑπό: πάρειμι, ὑπόκειμαι.

§III

PART III. SYNTAX.

§I

AGREEMENT.

I. AGREEMENT.

SUBJECT AND PREDICATE.

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?

ADJECTIVE. COMPARISON.

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.

[^1]: Note the frequent omission of the copula in short statements.

§125.1

PRONOUNS

III. PRONOUNS.

125. 1. The reflexive pronouns (62) are used

a) directly, when they refer to the subject of that sentence (or clause) in which they stand [Direct Reflexives], as in: γνῶθι σαυτόν know thyself.

Δίδωμί σοι ἐμαυτὸν δοῦλον καὶ σύμμαχον.

Ὁ σοφὸς ἐν αὐτῷ περιφέρει τὴν οὐσίαν.

b) indirectly, when they stand in subordinate (dependent) clauses and refer to the subject of the principal sentence (or clause) [Indirect Reflexives], as in:

Ὀρέστης φεύγων ἔπεισεν Ἀθηναίους ἑαυτὸν κατάγειν to restore him.

§2-128.1

PRONOUNS

2. Instead of the indirect reflexive of the third person,

a) either the oblique cases of αὐτός may be used, in which case the statement is taken objectively from the point of view of the writer:

Λέγουσι Ξενοφῶντι, ὅτι μεταμέλοι αὐτοῖς (se paenitere).

b) or the forms οἱ (encl. οἱ) and σφίσιν (rarely σφῶι, σφᾶς) are employed:

Κῦρος ἠξίου ἀδελφὸς ὢν βασιλέως δοθῆναι οἱ (sibi) ταύτας τὰς πόλεις. - (ἐρίζονταί οἱ : An. 1, 2, 8).

126. Possessive pronouns. - The relation of property may be expressed by the individualizing article (see 117, 1). But more frequently this is done by means of the possessive pronouns and the possessive genitive of the personal pronouns. See 64, 3.

Σοὶ τοῦτο δίδωμι, ὅτι μου τὴν μητέρα τιμᾷς.

Καὶ ὑμεῖς ἅπαντες τοὺς ὑμετέρους παῖδας ἀγαπᾶτε.

Κἄπὶ τοῖς σαυτῆς κακοῖσι κἀπὶ τοῖς ἐμοῖς γελᾷς.

Ἀστυάγης τὴν ἑαυτοῦ θυγατέρα μετεπέμψατο καὶ τὸν παῖδα αὐτῆς.

Μᾶλλον πιστεύετε τοῖς ὑμετέροις αὐτῶν ὀφθαλμοῖς ἢ τοῖς τούτου λόγοις (cf. vestra ipsorum opera).

127. The intensive pronoun αὐτός admits of a variety of uses:

1. self, ipse, e.g. ὁ υἱὸς αὐτός filius ipse, the son himself.

2. in the oblique cases: of him, of her, of it, etc., eius, etc. It never heads a sentence. ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ filius eius, his son; στέργω αὐτόν I love him. See 61. 63.

3. with the article: the same, idem, ὁ αὐτὸς υἱός.

4. καὶ αὐτός (et ipse) means: himself, himself too, likewise, in turn.

Σοφοῖς ὁμιλῶν καὐτὸς ἐκβήσῃ σοφός.

5. with ordinal numbers αὐτός assigns to a person a prominent place among others:

τρίτος αὐτός himself the third = he with two others.

Στρατηγὸς ἦν Ξενοκλείδης πέμπτος αὐτός.

6. for αὐτοῖς ἀνδράσιν and ὁ αὐτός τινι see 158, 3.

128. Demonstrative pronouns (see 65).

1. ὅδε this one (here or there), points ahead to what is present, what is before and connected with one’s self, or to what follows.

Οὗτος this, that, the said, points back to what has been previously mentioned, to what precedes.

Archive correction

Report an error