Download a noun or any a word or group of words that

Greek Syntax: Substantives
I.
Substantives
A. Definition: a noun or any a word or group of words that functions as a noun substitute.
B.
Substantives include nouns, pronouns, sometimes adjectives (ïÊ ôõöëïé = “the blind”), the article,
participles and infinitives (“to err is human”).
C.
Sometimes a phrase or clause can function as a substantive (called a noun phrase/clause or substantival
phrase/clause).
D. Characteristics of substantives:
1.
Number: singular and plural
2.
Gender: masculine, feminine, neuter
3.
Case:
a.
Definition: the form of a substantive which indicates the grammatical function of the word in the
clause; i.e. its relationship to other words in the clause
b.
Two ways of classifying noun cases: 5-case system and 8-case system
(1) 5-case system groups noun cases according to inflection (forms): nominative, vocative,
accusative, genitive, dative
(2) 8-case system groups noun cases according to function, even though some of the uses have the
same forms in every instance
(a) one of the forms is used for the genitive and ablative
(b) another form is used for dative, locative and instrumental
c.
Main idea of the cases:
(1) Nominative: designation, naming, pointing out
(2) Vocative: address someone
(3) Genitive:
(a) Pure genitive: describe and define; attributes a quality or relationship to a substantive
(b) Ablative: separation
(4) Dative:
(a) Pure dative: personal interest
(b) Locative: location
(c) Instrumental: means (of performing the action of the verb)
(5) Accusative: limitation
d.
Prepositions are often used with substantives to help define the case usage
Copyright 2013 Dr. Harry A Hahne
Substantives
2
II. Case Uses
A. Nominative
*basic idea: designation, naming, pointing out
B.
1.
Subject Nominative: specifies the subject of a finite verb; i.e. who or what produces the action; Jn 3:16:
hjg avp hsen oJ qeo;" to;n kovs mon (“God loved the world”)
2.
Predicate Nominative: used for the complement (object) of a copulative (or linking) verb (“be”,
“become”); 1 Jn 4:8: oJ qeo;" ajg avp h ejs tivn (“God is love”)
3.
Nominative of appellation: sometimes a declinable proper noun (i.e. a name) is put in the nominative,
regardless of how it is used in the sentence; Lk 2:21: ejk lhvq h to; o[n oma aujt ou` Ij hsou`" (“His name
was called Jesus”); John 13:13 (“you call me teacher and Lord”)
4.
Independent nominative [nominative absolute, hanging nominative]: a nominative that is independent
of the grammar of the sentence and simply stands on its own
a. Sudden change of construction [W allace: Nominative Pendens]; Rev. 3:12: O
J nikw`n poihvs w
aujt o;n stu`l on (“the conqueror, I will make him a pillar”)
b. Salutation of a letter [W allace: Nominative absolute]; 1 Cor. 1:1: “Paul, an apostle...”
c. Title of a book [Wallace: Nominative absolute]; Mark 1:1: “the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ”
d. In exclamations [W allace: Nominative of exclamation]; Matt. 12:49: ijd ou; hJ mhvt hr mou kai; oiJ
ajd elfoiv mou (“Behold! My mother and brothers!”)
e. [rare] In proverbial expressions; 2 Pet 2:22: “A dog returns [a participle] to its own vomit”
f. [rare] In expressions of time where the accusative might normally be used, to express duration of
time; Mk 8:2
5.
Nominative of address: identifies the one spoken to; replaces vocative; Mk 15:34: oJ qeov" mou oJ qeov"
mou, eij" tiv ejg katevl ipe" me (“M y God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”; contrast Matt.
27:46)
6.
Nominative of apposition: a noun occurs beside another noun in the same case and refers to the same
thing, but viewed from a different perspective; Rom 1:1: Pau`l o" dou`l o" Cristou` Ij hsou` (“Paul, a
servant of Christ Jesus”)
Vocative
*Basic idea: to address someone
1.
Direct address: identifies the one spoken to more precisely and adds emphasis; Mark 14:30: “Lord,
save me!”; Mark 27:46: Qeev mou qeev mou, iJn ativ me ejg katevl ipe" (“My God, my God, why have
you forsaken me?”)