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Adjective · Grammar concept

Adjective: Adj -ος, -α, -ον

Adj -ος, -α, -ον is a adjective topic in Koine (biblical) Greek. This page gathers its forms, paradigms, and function, drawn from the lessons of Reading Greek Deeply.

Adjective1 lesson2 paradigms

MorphologyAdj -ος, -α, -ον

  • For adjectives ending in ε, ι, or ρ, the vowel of the fem sg endings changes from η to α (just like 1st declension nouns ending in ε, ι, or ρ – see 6.4.4).
Morphology: Adj -ος, -α, -ον
Masculine singularFeminine singularNeuter singular
Nominativeπαλαι-όςπαλαι-άπαλαι-όν
Genitiveπαλαι-οῦπαλαι-ᾶςπαλαι-οῦ
Dativeπαλαι-ῷπαλαι-ᾷπαλαι-ῷ
Accusativeπαλαι-όνπαλαι-άνπαλαι-όν

fromLesson 17.3

SemanticsAdjective (1 – Attributive and predicate adjectives)

To say God’s holy name is not the same as God’s name is holy. An adjective used attributively (i.e. God’s holy name) is not making a claim that God’s name is holy, but it is assuming that the description is true. On the other hand, saying God’s name is holy makes a claim about what God’s name is like. The technical terms for this in linguistics are presupposition and assertion. Attributive adjectives presuppose that the description is true, while predicative adjectives assert that the description is true.

Semantics: Adjective (1 – Attributive and predicate adjectives)
Attributive vsPredicative Syntax
Before anarthrous nounἅγιον ὄνομα
After anarthrous nounὄνομα ἅγιον
Between noun and articleτὸ ὄνομα ἅγιον
With its own articleτὸ ὄνομα τὸ ἅγιον
Before definite nounἅγιοντὸ ὄνομα
After definite noun, no articleὁ νόμοςἅγιος

fromLesson 17.3

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