Lesson_013_Attic_Greek_Grammar

Question 1

In Attic Greek, Demonstratives are words that point out or call attention to particular persons or things. A demonstrative is by nature an adjective, but it becomes a pronoun when used substantively. In the sentence “I like that book,” for example, that is a demonstrative adjective modifying the noun book; if book is omitted from the sentence, that becomes a demonstrative pronoun (“I like that”), and the book is identified not as book, but only as a thing that the speaker singles out for attention. The term “demonstratives” is convenient because it includes both demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns.

Answer 1

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #154

Question 2

In Attic Greek, a demonstrative adjective may come either before or after the noun with which it agrees, but since it does not show a trait or characteristic—it simply calls attention to the person or thing—, it is never used in the attributive position. In other words, Attic Greek does not say “the this person” or “the things the those,” placing the demonstrative adjective immediately after one of the noun’s definite articles; instead it gives the adjective predicate position: “this the person” or “the things those.” The noun modified by the demonstrative adjective normally has a definite article with it, since omitting the word “the”—the regular practice in English—would make the person or thing seem indefinite in Greek. When you translate, you should omit the definite article: e.g., οὗτος ὁ μαθητής = “that student”; ἡ κόρη ἥδε = “this maiden.”

Answer 2

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #155

Question 3

In Attic Greek, The genitive of possession often relies on a demonstrative phrase (= a demonstrative adjective + its noun) or a demonstrative pronoun. In Greek this construction requires not only that the demonstrative phrase or word be in the genitive case, but also that it be in the attributive position. Because this arrangement of words sound bizarre if translated literally into English, it is best not to translate the genitive with “of” but to substitute a possessive form. Examples τὸν τούτου τοῦ νεανίου ἵππον κλέπτουσιν. “They steal this young man’s horse.” Literal version: “They steal the of this the young man horse.”

Answer 3

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #156