Declension of Nouns
There are three declension of nouns i.e general forms of inflection.
The first declension belong to all whose stems end in α
The second declension belong to all whose stems end in ο
The third declension belong to all whose stems end in other than
The first and second declensions are parisyllabic, i.e. the terminations are blended with the stem-vowel in one syllable. The third declension is imparisyllable, i.e the termination of most of the cases forms an additional sylable to the stems.
First Declension
Feminines, in the nominative case, exhibit the simple stem, excepting that in cetain cases the alpha is lengthened into η. Hence the following varieties:
| Stems |
γραφα- |
writing |
γλωσσα- |
language |
οικια- |
house |
Singular |
| Nominative |
γραφη |
a writing (subjective) |
γλωσσα |
a language (subjective) |
οικια |
a house (subjective) |
| Genitive |
γραφης |
of a writing |
γλωσσης |
of a language |
οικιας |
of a house |
| Dative |
γραφη |
to a writing |
γλωσση |
to a language |
οικια |
to a house |
| Accusative |
γραφην |
a writing (objective) |
γλωσσαν |
a language (objective) |
οικιαν |
a house (objective) |
| Vocative |
γραφη |
O writing |
γλωσσα |
O language |
οικια |
O house |
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Plural |
| Nominative |
γραφαι |
writings (subjective) |
γλωσσαι |
languages (subjective) |
οικιαι |
houses (subjective) |
| Genitive |
γραφων |
of writings |
γλωσσων |
of languages |
οικιων |
of houses |
| Dative |
γραφαις |
to writings |
γλωσσαις |
to languages |
οικιαις |
to houses |
| Accusative |
γραφας |
writings (objective) |
γλωσσας |
languages (objective) |
οικιας |
houses (objective) |
| Vocative |
γραφαι |
O writings |
γλωσσαι |
O languages |
οικιαι |
O houses |
Notes:
- Like γραφη are all nouns of this declension whose nominative ends in η.
- Like γλωσσα are nouns in α preceded by a consonant except ρ.
- Like οικια are nouns in α preceded by a vowel or ρ
- The terminations of the plural are alike in all three.
Nouns
Masculines of this declension form the nominative in σ added to the stem, the α being lengthened into η after a consonant, excepting ρ. Hence these varieties:
| Stems |
κριτα- |
judge |
νεανια- |
young man |
Singular |
| Nominative |
κριτησ |
a judge (subjective) |
νεανιασ |
a young man (subjective) |
| Genitive |
κριτου |
of a judge |
νεανιου |
of a young man |
| Dative |
κριτη |
to a judge |
νεανια |
to a young man |
| Accusative |
κριτην |
a judge (objective) |
νεανιαν |
a young man (objective) |
| Vocative |
κριτα |
O judge |
νεανια |
O young man |
| |
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Plural |
| Nominative |
κριται |
judges (subjective) |
νεανιαι |
young men |
| Genitive |
κριτων |
of judges |
νεανιων |
of young men |
| Dative |
κριταισ |
to judges |
νεανιαισ |
to young men |
| Accusative |
κριτασ |
judges (objective) |
νεανιασ |
young men (objective) |
| Vocative |
κριται |
O judges |
νεανιαι |
O young men |
Notes:
- The Vocative Singular gives the simple stem.
- The Plural terminations are precisely like the feminines.
- Proper names in ας which have a consonant before the stem-letter, form the genitive in α instead of ου. Thus Κηφασ Kephas, genitive Κηφα, but Ανδρεασ Andrew , genitive Ανδρεου.
When the predicate is a noun (or pronoun. adjective, or participle) joined to the subject by a form of the substantive verb (copula) it must correspond in case. This is sometimes expressed by the rule, "The verb to be take the same case after as before it." Subject and predicate are in apposition.
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