120. The Greek article was originally a demonstrative pronoun (it was so used in Homer). It was subsequently weakened to the status of article, then serving merely as a pointer. Cf. the article der in German, which serves as article, relative and demonstrative pronoun; in English that is both demonstrative and relative and is related to the article. In Greek the article is definite. Greek does not, strictly speaking, have an indefinite article (corresponding to a, an in English).
0121. The declension of the article serves as the model for the declension of all first and second declension nouns as well as numerous adjectives and pronouns. Since the article provides the basic declension pattern from which so much can be derived, it must be mastered. Prompt mastery will assure rapid control of the bulk of the nominal system.
121. The article ὁ, ἡ, τό, the, is declined as follows:
Singular | Plural | ||||||
Masc. | Fem. | Neut. | Masc. | Fem. | Neut. | ||
Nom. | ὁ | ἡ | τό | οἱ | αἱ | τά | |
Gen. | τοῦ | τῆς | τοῦ | τῶν | τῶν | τῶν | |
Dat. | τῷ | τῇ | τῳ | τοῖς | ταίς | τοῖς | |
Acc. | τόν | τήν | τό | τούς | τάς | τά |
1210. Mnemonic hints:
1210.1 Four forms do not have initial τ: masc. and fem. nom. sing. and plur. These forms have rough breathing instead.
1210.2 The middle cases (gen. dat.) masc. and neut. are identical in the sing, and plur. respectively.
1210.3 The genitive plural is identical for all genders.
1210.4 The neuter nom. and acc. sing. are identical; the neuter nom. and acc. plur. likewise.
1210.5 The fem. has η in the sing., α in the plur. (except gen. plur.).
122. First and second declension substantives show the endings of the article with three exceptions: masc. nom. sing. adds -ς; neuter nom. and acc. singulars add ν (shown in parenthesis):
Singular | Plural | ||||||
Masc. | Fem. | Neut. | Masc. | Fern. | Neut. | ||
Nom. | -ο(ς) | -η | -ο(ν) | -οι | -αι | -α | |
Gen. | -ου | -ης | -ου | -ων | -ων | -ν | |
Dat. | -ῳ | -ῃ | -ῳ | -οις | -αις | -οις | |
Acc. | -ον | -ην | -ο(ν) | -ους | -ας | -α |
123. The relative pronoun, ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, who, which, that, follows the same pattern as the article. At three points it may easily be confused with the article. Because of its similarity and frequency, it may be learned along with the article. The relative pronoun is declined as follows:
Singular | Plural | ||||||
Masc. | Fem. | Neut. | Masc. | Fem. | Neut. | ||
Nom. | ὅς | ἥ | ὅ | οἵ | αἵ | ἅ | |
Gen. | οὗ | ἧς | οὗ | ὧν | ὧν | ὧν | |
Dat. | ᾧ | ᾗ | ᾧ | οἷς | αἷς | οἷς | |
Acc. | ὅν | ἥν | ὅ | οὕς | ἅς | ἅ |
1230. Mnemonic hints:
1230.1 The relative pronoun has rough breathing throughout (the masc. and fem. nom. sing. and plur. of the article also have rough breathing, but elsewhere τ).
1230.2 Mnemonic hints 2-5 §1210 apply here also.
1230.3 The masc. nom. sing. has final ς‚ (the corresponding form of the article does not, but second declension masculine nouns do: §122); the neut. nom. and acc. sing., however, do not add final ν as do neuter substantives of the second declension (§122).
1230.4 ἥ (fem. nom. sing.), οἵ, αἵ (masc., fem. nom. plur.) are identical in form with the corresponding forms of the article, except that the forms of the article lack accent: ἡ, οἱ, αἱ. The accent mark is the only means (other than context) of distinguishing these forms. ὅς is distinguishable from ὁ (the corresponding form of the article) by the final ς‚ as well as by the accent mark.
124. It is important to master the declension of the article. Mastery means instant identification (gender, number, case) in context. The most effective practice is scanning a Greek text for articles, at first verbally citing gender, number, case (with options). Then pass as quickly as possible to silent recognition.
The following notes on John 8:12-59 will be of help in avoiding initial confusions:
Jn 8:12: οὔ is not to be confused with οὗ (relative): accent and breathing are different.
8:13: οἱ is the article, not the relative: it lacks accent.
8:38: ἃ has grave (`) rather than acute (´) accent: this difference is not significant for the identification of the relative pronoun. Cf. τὰ in 8:39 and ὃς in 8:40.
1240. Word list:
ὁ, ἡ, τό: | the (definite article) |
ὅς, ἥ, ὅ: | who, which, that (relative pronoun) |