Lesson_017_Attic_Greek_Grammar

Question 1

In Attic Greek, Many third-declension nouns have stems ending in a vowel (ε, α, or ο) + sigma. In the great majority of these nouns, the stem-vowel is an epsilon. The few having alpha as their stem-vowel all happen to be neuter. The only noun with omicron as its stem-vowel is αἰδώς, -οῦς, ἡ (“shame”).

Answer 1

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #179

Question 2

In Attic Greek, Sigma-stem nouns use the same endings as stop-, liquid-, and nasal-stem nouns, but whenever an ending beginning with a vowel is added to a σ-stem, the sigma drops out (a common phenomenon when a sigma is “intervocalic,” i.e., placed between two vowels); this brings the stem-vowel into contact with the initial vowel of the ending, prompting the two of them to contact.

Answer 2

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #180

Question 3

In Attic Greek, The principles of contraction for Sigma-Stem Nouns are identical with those for contract verbs.

Answer 3

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #181

Question 4

In Attic Greek, Special Features of Sigma-Stem Nouns, (1): The stem is less obvious in σ-stem nouns than it is in stop-, liquid-, and nasal-stem nouns. An -ους ending in the genitive singular (where -ος would be expected) shows that there has been a contraction, either -ε[σ] ος or -ο[σ]ος. Since αἰδώς is the only οσ-stem noun in Greek, you can be certain that every other noun with an -ους ending in the genitive singular is an εσ-stem noun.

Answer 4

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #182

Question 5

In Attic Greek, Special Features of Sigma-stem Nouns, (2): For the nominative singular, all σ-stem use their pure stem, but masculine/feminine εσ-stems and αἰδώς also lengthen their stem-vowel, while neuter εσ-stems switch to a variant of their pure stem, in which ο has replaced ε.

Answer 5

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #183

Question 6

In Attic Greek, Special Features of Sigma-stem Nouns, (3): Masculine εσ-stems are all proper names nd thus are seldom found in the plural. Since their nominative singular ends in -ης, it is easy to confuse these nouns with first-declension masculines like δεσπότης, -ου; be sure to check the genitive singular. τριήρης is the only feminine εσ-stem.

Answer 6

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #184

Question 7

In Attic Greek, Special Features of Sigma-Stem Nouns, (4): In the accusative singular -εσα contracts to -η, -οσα to -ω. You would expect the accusative plural of masculine/feminine εσ-stems to end in -ης (-ε[σ]ας), but instead the ending -εις (-ε[σ]ες) is borrowed from the nominative plural. The accusative of all neuter σ-stems is identical with the nominative, in both singular and plural.

Answer 7

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #185

Question 8

In Attic Greek, Special Features of Sigma-Stem Nouns, (5): The vocative singular of σ-stem nouns is identical with the nominative singular except in masculine/feminine εσ-stem nouns, which use their pure stem (e.g., vocative of τριήρης, -ους, ἡ = τριῆρες).

Answer 8

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #186

Question 9

In Attic Greek, Special Features of Sigma-Stem Nouns, (6): As with contract verbs, the accent of σ-stem nouns is determined by where the words would have been accented in their uncontracted forms. Since they are nouns, their original accents would have been persistent. The one exception is the vocative singular of masculine εσ-stems, which has a recessive accent. (e.g., Σώκρατες).

Answer 9

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #187

Question 10

In Attic Greek, Just as first- and second-declension nouns furnish the endings for -ος, -η, -ον adjectives, so third-declension nouns furnish the endings for third-declension adjectives. One common type of third-declension adjective has the endings of nasal-stem nouns (e.g., εὐδαίμων, -ον, “happy”; cf. ἀγών); another has the endings of εσ-stem nouns (e.g., ἀληθής, -ές, “true”; cf. τριήρης).

Answer 10

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #188

Question 11

In Attic Greek, Adjectives with Third-Declension Nasal-Stem and εσ-Stem Endings, These two-endings adjectives have no distinct set of endings for the feminine gender; one ending covers both masculine and feminine (cf. ἀθάνατος, -ον, ἀνάξιος, -ον, and φιλόσοφος, -ον). The accent in the masculine/feminine vocative singular and in the neuter nominative/accusative/vocative singular of adjectives like εὐδαίμων is unusual in being recessive (εὔδαιμον); all the other forms have persistent accent, based on the location of the accent in the masculine/feminine nominative singular.

Answer 11

Attic Greek Grammar Rule #189