Elementary New Testament Greek, 2014a

4: The (Denite) Article
The Forms of the (Denite) Article
Since the article must be able to match itself to a noun found in any case, number, or
gender, it makes sense that the article must be capable of full exibility, of being able
to express itself in any case, number or gender.
Number Case Gender
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Singular Nominative
Genitive
Dative
Accusative
Plural Nominative
Genitive
Dative
Accusative
1) All forms begin with tau () except nominative masculines, and
nominative feminines.
2) These four forms without tau () have two other distinctive features:
a) each has a rough breathing mark (a breathed “h” sound)
b) each lacks an accent (they are proclitics, owing into the
pronunciation of the next word)
3) In terms of accent, all genitives and datives have the circumex.
4) The masculine and neuter forms are similar to the second declension
endings for nouns you have already learned.
5) At this point, the entire set of feminine forms need to be memorized as a
new venture.
The Article Linked (in agreement) with
Nouns
We have re-produced the second declension forms we learned in the previous chapter,
and have coupled each noun with the appropriate form of the article. This is how
Greek will express “the angel(s)”, or “the book(s)”, or “the gift(s)”. Study this well:
Masculine Feminine Neuter
Number Case Article + Noun Article + Noun Article + Noun
Singular nominative
genitive
dative
accusative
Plural nominative
genitive
dative
accusative
Key Clarications:
1) The Greek article enjoys standing in front of its partner noun, as in
English. (The accent of many articles has shifted from the Acute (forward
leaning) to Grave (backward leaning) because of the following word, in
accordance with rules not yet taught.)
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