11

Introduction to Pronouns

Pronouns in Greek for the most part work much as they do in English: they replace nouns. Since Greek nouns are distinguished by gender, number, and case, it is logical that the pronouns that replace them inflect to represent these same qualities. You have already seen this basic mechanism in practice: the definite article is the same gender, number, and case as the noun that it modifies.

Most Greek pronouns closely resemble the definite article. Let us review forms of the definite article (S 332; GPH p. 41):

Masculine:

Feminine:

Neuter:

1. 3rd Person Personal Pronoun

Our first pronoun is the Greek equivalent of he/she/it. Greek uses a single pronoun for all of these, and declines it by gender, number, and case. While the definite article has the stem τ-, this pronoun has the stem αὐτ-. The forms of αὐτός use the same endings with one exception: The masculine nominative singular of the pronoun ends in  –ς. Note also the accent pattern, which is similar to that of the definite article (S 327; GPH p. 43).

Singular:

Plural:

Depending on its placement in a sentence, αὐτός αὐτή αὐτό has three possible translations (S 328).

1. He/she/it

When the pronoun is standing on its own in any case except for the nominative, it is used as a 3RD PERSON PERSONAL PRONOUN. The form of the pronoun must correspond in gender, number, and case to the noun that it is replacing.

• οἱ ἄρχοντες διδόασι τὴν ἐλπίδα τοῖς παισίν.
  • The rulers give hope to the children.
• οἱ ἄρχοντες διδόασιν αὐτὴν αὐτοῖς.
  • The rulers are giving it to them.

2. Self

When this pronoun is used on its own in the NOMINATIVE case, it is emphatic and reflexive, much like ἐγώ,”I,” is emphatic when used in a Greek sentence. It is also emphatic if a form of the pronoun is used as an ADJECTIVE in the PREDICATE POSITION to modify a noun of any case.

• ἀποδίδομεν τὰ χρήματα, ἀλλ’ οὐκ αὐτοὶ ἀποδιδόασιν.
  • We give money back, but they themselves do not give (it) back.
  • αὐτοὶ is in the NOMINATIVE case.
• οἱ ἄρχοντες αὐτοὶ διδόασιν αὐτὴν τὴν ἐλπίδα τοῖς παισὶν αὐτοῖς.
  • The rulers themselves give hope itself to the children themselves.
  • αὐτοὶ/αὐτὴν/αὐτοῖς are adjectives in the PREDICATE position.

3. Same

When this pronoun is used instead as an ADJECTIVE in the ATTRIBUTIVE POSITION, it means “same.”

• οἱ αὐτοὶ ἄρχοντες διδόασι τὴν αὐτὴν ἐλπίδα τοῖς αὐτοῖς παισίν.
  • The same rulers give the same hope to the same children.
  • αὐτοὶ/αὐτὴν/αὐτοῖς are adjectives in the ATTRIBUTIVE position.
• οἱ αὐτοὶ ἄρχοντες διδόασι τὴν αὐτὴν ἐλπίδα τοῖς παισίν αὐτοῖς.
  • The same rulers give the same hope to the children themselves.
  • αὐτοὶ/αὐτὴν are adjectives in the ATTRIBUTIVE position.
  • αὐτοῖς is an adjective in the PREDICATE position.

2. First Person Personal Pronoun (I, we)

The inflection of the first person pronoun includes TWO FORMS for the genitive, dative, and accusative singular. The two forms have the same meaning, though the unaccented forms are ENCLITIC and less emphatic.

The accent patterns, case endings, and stem changes are irregular and require memorization, as is the case with the first person pronoun in many languages, including English (S 325; GPH p. 42).

The stem for this pronoun is (ἐ)μo-/(ἐ)με– in the singular, ἡμε– in the plural. This helps to explain some of the forms, and the fact that the accent for non-enclitics is always on the ultima. For example, ἡμεῖς is derived from ἡμέες. Note that ἐγώ is not associated with these stems (S 326).

3. Second Person Personal Pronoun (you)

As with the first person pronoun, the inflection of the second person pronoun includes TWO FORMS for the genitive, dative, and accusative singular. The two forms have the same meaning, though the unaccented forms are ENCLITIC and less emphatic.

The accent patterns, case endings, and stem changes are irregular and require memorization, as is the case with the second person pronoun in many languages (S 325; GPH p. 42).

The stem for this pronoun is συ-/σε-/σο– in the singular, ὑμε– in the plural. As with the first person pronoun, the accent of non-enclitics is always on the ultima.

Remember that the NOMINATIVE forms of the first and second person pronouns are often redundant in a sentence, since normally the personal ending of the verb tells you the subject. When they appear, they often add emphasis or are shorthand for a complete statement:

• ἡμεῖς ἐθέλομεν τὸν παῖδα παραδιδόναι. καὶ ὑμεῖς;
  • Well, we want to hand over the child. And you?

– τὸ τέλος –