APPENDIX II: SYNTAX

1. CASES
Most of the examples are from Euripides Alcestis and Platos Euthyphro.

Nominative
Most Common Nominative Endings
First declension: -, -, -[], -; -
Second declension: -, -; -, -
Third declension: - [-, ], -, -, -[]; - [-], - [-]

Uses of the Nominative Case

a. Subject: the subject of a finite verb is nominative. A finite verb is one in
which the ending defines the subject, as opposed to an infinitive.

Examples:

, . We are all lost, not she only.

Alcestis 825
, . These things will be, (they) will be
Alcestis 327
b. Predicate nominative: a nominative is used in the predicate after verbs
meaning be, become, appear, be named and the like, in agreement with the subject. A few of these verbs in Greek are , , , ,
(be chosen), (be called), (be said, be called).

Examples:

. . . I have, then, become your pupil.

Euthyphro 5a

315

316

Appendix II: Syntax

. I shall not admit that I have come
uninvited.
Plato, Symposium 174d

Genitive
Most Common Genitive Endings
First declension: -, -, -; -
Second declension: -; -
Third declension: - [-, -]; -

Uses of the Genitive Case

Most uses of the genitive come under two headings: the defining (or adjectival) genitive, which is used for one noun depending on another; and the
ablatival genitive, used for separation.
a. Possession: The genitive (in the attributive position) is used for possession
and other close relationships.

Examples:

. Rather the wife of Admetus is dead,

stranger.
Alcestis 821
, ,
. The things said by you, Euthyphro, seem to me of our
ancestor, Daedalus (i.e., seem to belong to our ancestor, Daedalus; this is
also called the predicate genitive of characteristic).
Euthyphro 11c
b. Partitive Genitive: (in the predicate position) used for the whole from
which a part is taken. It can be used with nouns, adjectives, and verbs.

Examples:

. For you know if anyone else of

men [does].
Euthyphro 15d
This genitive is common with verbs of touching, remembering, and
forgetting.
, . You have touched my soul, you have
touched my senses. [ < touch; = ]
Alcestis 109

1. Cases
c. Genitive of Comparison: used with comparative adjectives and adverbs
and with verbs implying comparison.

Example:

. For nothing is more precious than life.

Alcestis 301
d. Genitive of Agent: the one by whom something is done is expressed by
(by) with the genitive.

Example:

. It is loved by all the gods.

Euthyphro 10d
e. Genitive of Cause: verbs of emotion take a genitive of the cause of the
feeling.

Examples:

/ . Angered at
which, I killed the Cyclopes, workers of Zeus fire.
Alcestis 56
This genitive is often used in exclamations.
[= ]. Ah me for my [ill] fortune.
Alcestis 398
f. Genitive of Source: with verbs of hearing, the genitive is used for the person or thing heard; the sound heard is accusative.

Example:

. But hear me.

Alcestis 781
g. Genitive with verbs: Verbs of ruling take the genitive, which depends on
the nominal idea of the verb (e.g., be king of ).
Verbs of reaching and obtaining take a genitive of the thing attained.

Examples:

. You rule over many.

Alcestis 687
, . Being holy I met with a holy man.
Alcestis 10

317

318

Appendix II: Syntax

h. Genitive of Separation (ablatival use): the genitive is used with verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions implying separation from.

Examples:

, , / . For
you have lost a nobleno one will deny itand chaste wife.
Alcestis 61516
. But I am still in need of a little
something.
Euthyphro 12e
i. Genitive of Time within which: The genitive is used of the period of time
within which something happens.

Example:

. These things happened during the day.

Xenophon, Anabasis 7.4.14
j. Genitive Absolute: a participial clause (noun/pronoun and participle) in
the genitive gives attendant circumstances of the main action.

Example:

. While you were speaking, I was

thinking about this.
Euthyphro 9c
k. Other uses of the Genitive: subjective, objective, material.

Examples:

The subjective genitive is used for the subject of a feeling.

, the barbarians fear (the fear that they feel)
Xenophon, Anabasis 1.2.17
The objective genitive is used for the object of a feeling or action.
desire for water
Thucydides 2.52
The genitive is used for material or contents. the
barrier of teeth (i.e., consisting of teeth)
Homer, Iliad 4.850, etc.

Dative
Most Common Dative Endings
First declension: -, -; - [-]
Second declension: -; - [-]
Third declension: -; - []

1. Cases

Uses of the Dative Case

The dative is used for the party interested (including the indirect object, the
dative of advantage, and the dative of possession, to, for, of ), for the instrument (means or manner, by, with), and for the locative (place where and time
when, in, on, at).
a. Indirect object: the person or thing indirectly affected by the verb goes into
the dative.

Example:

,/ .
You will bury her though you are yourself her murderer and you will still
pay the penalty to your in-laws.
Alcestis 7301
b. Dative with Verbs: many intransitive and impersonal verbs take the dative:
verbs meaning benefit, obey, serve, assist, please, satisfy, advise, and their opposites; and those expressing friendliness, hostility, blame, anger, reproach, likeness,
accompaniment, and agreement. Compounds in - and some in -, -,
- and - take the dative.

Examples:

/ ; Wasnt it enough for you

to have prevented the death of Admetus?
Alcestis 32
. And to help this house
unjustly.
Alcestis 41
, , . I do not follow the things
being said, Socrates.
Euthyphro 12a
c. Dative with Adjectives: the dative is used with adjectives expressing
friendliness, hostility, likeness, and meanings similar to those of verbs in b.

Example:

. You are a friend of long standing

to my masters.
Alcestis 212
d. Dative of Advantage/Disadvantage: The person or thing to whose advantage or disadvantage something is or is done is in the dative and is usually
translated with the English preposition for.

Example:

/,
. She has made life most glorious for all women, having undergone
this noble deed.
Alcestis 6234

319

320

Appendix II: Syntax

The Ethical dative is a special type of the dative of advantage/disadvantage, in which a personal pronoun in the dative has the force of for my sake, for
your sake, etc.

Example:

, . For they are not

willing to stand still for you, as it seems to you yourself.
Euthyphro 11c
e. Dative of Possession: with and , the dative is used of the possessor, with the thing possessed in the nominative.

Example:

, /
. For you were alone to them (you were their only child)
and there was no hope (they had no hope)once you were deadto produce more children.
Alcestis 2934
f. Dative of Agent: used with the perfect and pluperfect passive (and rarely
with other passive tenses).

Example:

. Many cures have been found by

the doctors.
Isocrates 8.39.
g. Instrumental Dative: cause, manner, and means are expressed by the dative.

Examples:

. . . . And it is not grasped by art. . . .

Alcestis 786
The Dative of Respect is a form of the dative of manner.
. For they were friends in word, not in
deed.
Alcestis 339
The Dative of Degree of Difference is a form of the dative of manner used
with comparatives.
, ,
, ,
, , . I am likely, then, my
friend, to be more clever than that man, insofar as [by so much as] he made
only his own [creations] not to stay put, but I, as it seems, in addition to
my own, also [make] other peoples [not to stay put].
Euthyphro 11d

1. Cases
h. Locative Dative: The dative is used for place where (with a preposition)
and time when (with or without a preposition).

Examples:

; Do I find Admetus in the house?

Alcestis 477
. I am going to bury a dead
person on this day.
Alcestis 513

Accusative
Most Common Accusative Endings
First declension: -, -; -
Second declension: -; -, -
Third declension: -, -, -, -; -, -, -

Uses of the Accusative Case

The accusative is used for the direct object, for the end of motion (terminal,
to, toward), as subject of an infinitive, and in various adverbial relationships.
a. Direct Object: the direct object is in the accusative. Two accusatives may
be used with one verb.

Examples:

, [= ], . They call
him, I think, Meletus.
Euthyphro 2b
[= ] ; What wrong have I done you?
Alcestis 689
b. Cognate Accusative (internal object): the cognate accusative repeats the
meaning already contained in the verb and can be used with both transitive
and intransitive verbs.

Example:

. And in particular that

I will live the rest of my life better.
Euthyphro 16a
c. Subject of Infinitive: the accusative is used as the subject of an infinitive.

Example:

. For he says that I am a maker of gods.

Euthyphro 16a

321

322

Appendix II: Syntax

d. Terminal Accusative: the place to which (usually with a preposition, ,
, , etc., but in poetry often without a preposition) is accusative.

Example:

into the house of Hades

Alcestis 25
e. Accusative of respect: an adverbial accusative that tells in what respect
something is true.

Example:

nor a woman in form otherwise

most beautiful
Alcestis 333
f. Extent of Time or Space is in the accusative.

Example:

/ , . For it is
sweet to see loved ones even at night for whatever time he/she is there.
Alcestis 3556
g. Accusative Absolute: used instead of the genitive absolute when the participle represents an impersonal verb.

Example:

, . I am dying, it being possible

[although it is possible] for me not to die on your behalf.
Alcestis 284

Vocative
Most Common Vocative Endings
First declension: -, -; - same as nominative
Second declension: -, -; -, -
Third declension: like nominative or like base

Use of the Vocative Case

Direct Address: the vocative is used for direct address either with or without
, oh!

Example:

. , .
. , , .
Admetus: Hello, son of Zeus of the blood of Perseus.
Heracles: Admetus, hello to you too, king of the Thessalians.
Alcestis 50910