ITW:2 οὐ μόνον ... ἀλλὰ καὶ ... (2 verbs c. diff. obj.s)

How can I learn to express my ideas in clear and intelligible Greek?
Post Reply
Stephen Hughes
Posts: 3323
Joined: February 26th, 2013, 7:12 am

ITW:2 οὐ μόνον ... ἀλλὰ καὶ ... (2 verbs c. diff. obj.s)

Post by Stephen Hughes »

In this invitation to write (ITW), we could try writing using the first variation of the construction οὐ μόνον ... ἀλλὰ καὶ ... (2 verbs c. diff. obj.s). In this variation there are two different verbs with two different objects - only the subject is the same.
John 5:18 (part) wrote:[ὁ Ἰησοῦς] οὐ μόνον ἔλυεν τὸ σάββατον , ἀλλὰ καὶ πατέρα ἴδιον ἔλεγεν τὸν θεόν , ἴσον ἑαυτὸν ποιῶν τῷ θεῷ.
Matthew 21:21 (part) wrote:οὐ μόνον τὸ τῆς συκῆς ποιήσετε , ἀλλὰ κἂν τῷ ὄρει τούτῳ εἴπητε , Ἄρθητι καὶ βλήθητι εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν , γενήσεται .
My own poor attempts are:
  • οἱ ἔνοικοι οὐ μόνον ἔκοψαν τὰ δένδρα ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐξήραιναν τὰ ἕλη.
    "The inhabitants not only felled the trees, but also drained the marshes."
    οἱ ἔνοικοι οὐ μόνον ἔκοψαν τὰ δένδρα ἀλλὰ καὶ ἤγρευσαν τὰ θηρία.
    "The inhabitants not only felled the trees, but also caught the wild animals."
    οἱ ἔνοικοι οὐ μόνον ἡμέρωσαν τὰ χείλη τοῦ ποταμοῦ ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐξήρανεν τὰ ἕλη.
    "The inhabitants not only cultivated the banks of the river, but also drained the swamps.
  • ὁ κηπουρὸς οὐ μόνον ποτίζει τὰ ἄνθη ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐκριζοῖ τὰ ζιζάνια.
    "The gardener not only waters the flowers, but also uproots the weeds."
    ὁ κηπουρὸς οὐ μόνον δρέπει τὰ ἄνθη ἀλλὰ καὶ συλλέγει τὰ μῆλα.
    "The gardener no only gathers the flowers, but also gathers the apples."
    ὁ κηπουρὸς οὐ μόνον ἐκριζοῖ τὰ ζιζάνια ἀλλὰ καὶ καθαίρει τὸν ἰξὸν.
    "The gardener not only gets the weeds out by the roots, but also gets rid off the mistletoe."
Perhaps you would like to try some examples of this variation below, and next we will look a similar patter with two objects for the same verb....
Γελᾷ δ' ὁ μωρός, κἄν τι μὴ γέλοιον ᾖ
(Menander, Γνῶμαι μονόστιχοι 108)
Post Reply

Return to “Writing Greek”