Conjunction: δέ and μέν

SyntaxConjunction – δέ and μέν

Both δέ and μέν belong to a class of conjunctions in Greek called post-positives. This means they cannot occur at the beginning of the clause they connect:

• (124) ὁ δὲ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἔχει ποῦ τὴν κεφαλὴν κλίνῃ (Matt 8:20)
• But the son of man does not have any place he might lay his head

We return to this example in the semantics section, but notice here that the clause connected with δέ begins with ὁ. This is what clauses with μέν and δέ look like. The conjunction will never begin the clause. As in our example, post-positives normally stand in the second position, but on occasion you will find them further back.

fromLesson 14.4

SemanticsConjunction – δέ and μέν

The conjunctions μέν and δέ normally contrast two things. In the majority of cases when μέν is used, it is found in the first clause and δέ will be in the second clause, and this usually sets up a contrast between the two:

fromLesson 14.4