Pronoun: ἐμός and σός

MorphologyPronoun – ἐμός and σός

• The possessive pronouns ἐμός and σός have the typical 2nd declension and 1st declension endings attached to ἐμ- for 1st person and σ- for 2nd person, e.g. ἐμός/ἐμή/ἐμόν and σός/σή/σόν
• The pl forms of these pronouns are ἡμέτερος and ὑμέτερος; both are declined according to the same patterns

fromLesson 49.1

SyntaxPronoun – Intensifier possessive pronouns

The intensifier possessive pronoun always comes between the article and the noun it modifies, e.g. MY house = ὁ ἐμὸς οἶκος. The article is always found with intensifier possessive pronouns except when the pronoun itself is the predicate of a copula clause (using either εἰμί or γίνομαι):1

• (560) σά as predicate without article
• καὶ πάντα τὰ ἐμὰ σά ἐστιν (Luke 15:31)
• And all that is mine is yours

fromLesson 49.1

SemanticsPronoun – Intensifier possessive pronouns

We described the intensifier use of αὐτός (29.1.3.1) in a very similar way as our description of focus – intensifiers specify that one individual, and not other individuals, participate in the eventuality. In other words, intensifiers negate alternatives just like focused elements (see 48.1.3). The pronouns ἐμός, σός, ἡμέτερος, and ὑμέτερος all serve as intensifier possessive pronouns, so they both mark possession and negate the possession of other salient alternatives in the context.

• (562) ἐμός as intensifier possessive pronoun – Contrasting
• λέγει οὖν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς· ὁ καιρὸς ὁ ἐμὸς οὔπω πάρεστιν, ὁ δὲ καιρὸς ὁ ὑμέτερος πάντοτέ ἐστιν ἕτοιμος. (John 7:6) Then Jesus said to them, ‘ MY time is not yet here, but YOUR time is always at hand’
• (563) σός as intensifier possessive pronoun – Asserting

fromLesson 49.1