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We have already learned a handful of pronouns:
- αὐτός -ή -ό self, same, he/she/it
- ἐγώ, ἡμεῖς I, we
- σύ, ὑμεῖς you, y’all
- ἐκεῖνος -η -ο that
- οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο this
- ὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε this
- ὅς, ἥ, ὅ who, which, that
- ὅσπερ, ἥπερ, ὅπερ the same who, which, that
- ὅστις, ἥτις, ὅ τι anyone/thing who/which
- τις, τι (enclitic) someone, something
- τίς, τί who? what? which?
This chapter introduces REFLEXIVE and RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS, additional DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS, and the words for ALL, ONE, and NONE.
Reflexive and Reciprocal Pronouns
1. Reflexive Pronouns (-self, -selves)
English combines the personal pronoun and the word –self to form REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS: e.g. You love yourself. We see ourselves.
Greek forms REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS in much the same way, combining the personal pronoun with the corresponding (oblique) case, number, and gender form of αὐτός αὐτή αὐτό. Recall that this pronoun is emphatic – and translated as –self – if it is used on its own in the NOMINATIVE, or as an ADJECTIVE in the PREDICATE POSITION.
Note that Greek tends to combine the SINGULAR forms into one word (accent on the ultima), but inflects both pronouns in the PLURAL (S 329; GPH pp. 44-45).
a. Reflexive First Person Pronouns (myself, ourselves)
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | (none) | (none) |
| Genitive | ἐμαυτοῦ/ῆς | ἡμῶν αὐτῶν |
| Dative | ἐμαυτῷ/ῇ | ἡμῖν αὐτοῖς/αὐταῖς |
| Accusative | ἐμαυτόν/ήν | ἡμᾶς αὐτούς/αὐτάς |
b. Reflexive Second Person Pronouns (yourself, yourselves):
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | (none) | (none) |
| Genitive | σεαυτοῦ/ῆς | ὑμῶν αὐτῶν |
| Dative | σεαυτῷ/ῇ | ὑμῖν αὐτοῖς/αὐταῖς |
| Accusative | σεαυτόν/ήν | ὑμᾶς αὐτούς/αὐτάς |
For some authors, the –ε– in the antepenult of the singular forms is elided, resulting in σαυτοῦ/ῆς, σαυτῷ/ῇ, σαυτόν/ήν.
c. Reflexive Third Person Pronouns (himself, herself, itself, themselves):
Attic Greek uses the archaic third person pronoun ἑ to represent he, she, it in its THIRD PERSON REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS. While ἑ is found in Homer, in later Attic Greek the third person pronoun is more commonly expressed by ἐκεῖνος, oblique forms of αὐτός, and οὗτος.
The older third person pronoun ἑ does, however, survive in Attic Greek’s THIRD PERSON REFLEXIVE PRONOUN. Note that for this pronoun, Attic Greek combines the personal and reflexive pronouns into one form for both the singular and plural. Note also that the resulting form is accented as though it were a regular first or second declension noun with a persistent ultima accent (S 329; GPH pp. 46-47).
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | (none) | (none) |
| Genitive | ἑαυτοῦ/ῆς/οῦ | ἑαυτῶν |
| Dative | ἑαυτῷ/ῇ/ῷ | ἑαυτοῖς/αῖς/οῖς |
| Accusative | ἑαυτόν/ήν/ό | ἑαυτούς/άς/ά |
Some Attic Greek authors contract this pronoun. The result is that only the ROUGH BREATHING distinguishes it from the pronoun αὐτός αὐτή αὐτό!
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | (none) | (none) |
| Genitive | αὑτοῦ/ῆς/οῦ | αὑτῶν |
| Dative | αὑτῷ/ῇ/ῷ | αὑτοῖς/αῖς/οῖς |
| Accusative | αὑτόν/ήν/ό | αὑτούς/άς/ά |
2. Reciprocal Pronoun (each other)
Greek has a distinct pronoun that corresponds to the phrase each other. It is called the RECIPROCAL PRONOUN (S 331; GPH p. 51). It is usually found only in the oblique cases of the plural.
- οἱ Ἕλληνες ἀλλήλοις μάχονται.
- The Greeks are fighting with each other.
| Singular | Plural | |
| Nominative | (none) | (none) |
| Genitive | (none) | ἀλλήλων |
| Dative | (none) | ἀλλήλοις/αις |
| Accusative | (none) | ἀλλήλους/ας |
Demonstrative Pronouns
In Chapter 12, you learned the demonstrative pronoun οὗτος αὕτη τοῦτο (this). Two variations of this pronoun express quality and quantity.
1. Demonstrative Pronoun of Quality
Adding the prefix τοι– makes οὗτος αὕτη τοῦτο refer to the QUALITY of someone or something: this type, this kind or this sort (of). The inflection of this pronoun exhibits the following pattern:
- The prefix τοι– is added to all forms, and replaces the initial τ found in some inflected forms of οὗτος αὕτη τοῦτο.
- The stem τοιουτ– changes to τοιαυτ– if the case ending includes either an η or an α.
- The persistent accent is on the penult.
τοιοῦτος τοιαύτη τοιοῦτο this type, this kind, this sort (of) (S 333 e)
Singular:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | τοιοῦτος | τοιαύτη | τοιοῦτο |
| Genitive | τοιούτου | τοιαύτης | τοιούτου |
| Dative | τοιούτῳ | τοιαύτῃ | τοιούτῳ |
| Accusative | τοιοῦτον | τοιαύτην | τοιοῦτο |
Plural:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | τοιοῦτοι | τοιαῦται | τοιαῦτα |
| Genitive | τοιούτων | τοιούτων | τοιούτων |
| Dative | τοιούτοις | τοιαύταις | τοιούτοις |
| Accusative | τοιούτους | τοιαύτας | τοιαῦτα |
2. Demonstrative Pronoun of Quantity
Adding the prefix τοσ– makes οὗτος αὕτη τοῦτο refer to the QUANTITY of someone or something: so great, so large. The inflection of this pronoun exhibits the following pattern, which follows closely that of τοιοῦτος τοιαύτη τοιοῦτο:
- The prefix τοσ– replaces the initial τ found in some inflected forms of οὗτος αὕτη τοῦτο.
- The stem τοσουτ– changes to τοσαυτ– if the case ending includes either an η or an α.
- The persistent accent is on the penult.
τοσοῦτος τοσαύτη τοσοῦτο so great, so large (S 333e)
Singular:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | τοσοῦτος | τοσαύτη | τοσοῦτο |
| Genitive | τοσούτου | τοσαύτης | τοσούτου |
| Dative | τοσούτῳ | τοσαύτῃ | τοσούτῳ |
| Accusative | τοσοῦτον | τοσαύτην | τοσοῦτο |
Plural:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | τοσοῦτοι | τοσαῦται | τοσαῦτα |
| Genitive | τοσούτων | τοσούτων | τοσούτων |
| Dative | τοσούτοις | τοσαύταις | τοσούτοις |
| Accusative | τοσούτους | τοσαύτας | τοσαῦτα |
All, One, None
The next five pronouns all share a pattern:
- The MASCULINE/ NEUTER forms use THIRD DECLENSION endings.
- The FEMININE form uses FIRST DECLENSION endings, and CHANGES its STEM.
1. All, Every, Whole
πᾶς πᾶσα πᾶν all, every, whole, is an important and flexible pronoun. Given its nominative forms, it may seem surprising to know that the stem of this pronoun is παντ-. While its inflectional pattern may seem peculiar at first glance, the reasoning behind the stem changes that occur are familiar and regular.
For the MASCULINE and NEUTER, which both use THIRD DECLENSION endings, note the following inflection patterns:
- When the endings involve adding a –σ– to the stem (i.e. dative plural –σι and the masculine nominative singular –ς), the –ντ drops from the end of the stem. The –α– of the resulting new stem, πασ-, becomes long due to COMPENSATORY LENGTHENING.
- The neuter nominative singular has no case ending. Since –τ cannot end a Greek word, the –τ drops off the neuter nominative and accusative singular. The –α– is lengthened to match the masculine.
- The ACCENT pattern for the masculine and neuter is peculiar. In the SINGULAR, it is accented as though a monosyllabic noun. In the PLURAL, it is accented as though it has a persistent accent on the penult.
For the FEMININE, which uses FIRST DECLENSION endings, note the following inflection patterns:
- In all cases and numbers, the feminine stem originally added a –σ– to παντ-, which produced the stem παντσ-. The –ντ– dropped out by the Classical Period. The –α– of the resulting new stem, πασ-, became long due to COMPENSATORY LENGTHENING.
- The feminine is inflected with a short –ᾰ ending in the NOMINATIVE and ACCUSATIVE SINGULAR, and has its persistent accent on the PENULT. Its inflection, in other words, is similar to that of γλῶττα, γλώττης.
πᾶς πᾶσα πᾶν all, every, whole (S 299; GPH p. 30)
Singular:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | πᾶς | πᾶσα | πᾶν |
| Genitive | παντός | πάσης | παντός |
| Dative | παντί | πάσῃ | παντί |
| Accusative | πάντα | πᾶσαν | πᾶν |
Plural:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | πάντες | πᾶσαι | πάντα |
| Genitive | πάντων | πασῶν | πάντων |
| Dative | πᾶσι | πάσαις | πᾶσι |
| Accusative | πάντας | πάσας | πάντα |
As an adjective, the translation of πᾶς πᾶσα πᾶν depends upon its position (attributive or predicate) and the presence or absence of the article:
- Attributive: whole
- ἡ πᾶσα χώρα the whole country
- Predicate: all
- πᾶσαι αἱ χῶραι all the countries
- No article: every
- πᾶσα χώρα every country
2. All together
πᾶς πᾶσα πᾶν may be strengthened by adding an initial ἁ– to its form. The new form, ἅπας ἅπασα ἅπαν all together, declines similarly to πᾶς πᾶσα πᾶν, though note the change in accentuation! In all forms, it now is accented as though it has a persistent accent on the antepenult (or penult, if disyllabic).
ἅπας ἅπασα ἅπαν all together
Singular:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | ἅπας | ἅπασα | ἅπαν |
| Genitive | ἅπαντος | ἁπάσης | ἅπαντος |
| Dative | ἅπαντι | ἁπάσῃ | ἅπαντι |
| Accusative | ἅπαντα | ἅπασαν | ἅπαν |
Plural:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | ἅπαντες | ἅπασαι | ἅπαντα |
| Genitive | ἁπάντων | ἁπασῶν | ἁπάντων |
| Dative | ἅπασι | ἁπάσαις | ἅπασι |
| Accusative | ἅπαντας | ἁπάσας | ἅπαντα |
3. One
The word for one, εἷς μία ἕν, can function as a pronoun or an adjective. Note the following inflection patterns.
For MASCULINE and NEUTER:
- The stem is ἑν-. The ν drops out with the addition of the masculine nominative singular ending –ς, and the vowel is lengthened to a diphthong.
- Both the masculine and neuter follow the monosyllabic accent pattern.
For the FEMININE:
- The word uses a totally different stem, μι– (S 349a). Like πᾶσα, it has a short –ᾰ in the NOMINATIVE and ACCUSATIVE SINGULAR.
- The accent is on the penult of the NOMINATIVE and ACCUSATIVE, and on the ultima for the GENITIVE and DATIVE. Note that the –ι– of the stem results in ᾱ appearing instead of η in all cases.
εἷς μία ἕν one (S 349; GPH p. 37)
Singular:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | εἷς | μία | ἕν |
| Genitive | ἑνός | μιᾶς | ἑνός |
| Dative | ἑνί | μιᾷ | ἑνί |
| Accusative | ἕνα | μίαν | ἕν |
4. No one, Nothing
An important compound of εἷς μία ἕν adds the prefixes οὐ and δε to mean no one, nothing. Note that the accent pattern matches that of εἷς μία ἕν.
οὐδείς οὐδεμία οὐδέν no one, nothing (S 349b)
Singular:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | οὐδείς | οὐδεμία | οὐδέν |
| Genitive | οὐδενός | οὐδεμιᾶς | οὐδενός |
| Dative | οὐδενί | οὐδεμιᾷ | οὐδενί |
| Accusative | οὐδένα | οὐδεμίαν | οὐδέν |
Sometimes Greek uses μή instead of οὐ for not when forming this compound. There is no difference in meaning.
μηδείς μηδεμία μηδέν no one, nothing (S 349b)
Singular:
| M | F | N | |
| Nominative | μηδείς | μηδεμία | μηδέν |
| Genitive | μηδενός | μηδεμιᾶς | μηδενός |
| Dative | μηδενί | μηδεμιᾷ | μηδενί |
| Accusative | μηδένα | μηδεμίαν | μηδέν |
– τὸ τέλος –
Paradigms, Key Terms and Concepts
- Chapter Paradigms (reflexive, reciprocal, demonstrative)
- Chapter Paradigms (all, one, none)
- REFLEXIVE FIRST PERSON PRONOUN
- REFLEXIVE SECOND PERSON PRONOUN
- REFLEXIVE THIRD PERSON PRONOUN
- RECIPROCAL PRONOUN
- DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUN OF QUALITY
- DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUN OF QUANTITY
- POSITION OF πᾶς πᾶσα πᾶν AND ITS TRANSLATION
Vocabulary
- ἐμαυτοῦ -ῆς myself
- σεαυτοῦ -ῆς (σαυτοῦ -ῆς) yourself
- ἑαυτοῦ -ῆς -οῦ (αὑτοῦ -ῆς -οῦ) himself/herself/itself
- ἀλλήλων each other
- τοιοῦτος τοιαύτη τοιοῦτο this/these kinds
- τοσοῦτος τοσαύτη τοσοῦτο so great, so large
- πᾶς πᾶσα πᾶν all, every, whole
- ἅπας ἅπασα ἅπαν all together
- εἷς μία ἕν one
- οὐδείς οὐδεμία οὐδέν no one, nothing
- μηδείς μηδεμία μηδέν no one, nothing
Exercises
Ι. Memorize the vocabulary, and practice the inflections for each pronoun.
ΙΙ. Translate the following sentences into Greek.
- The enemy will see each other on the island.
- Panic itself will come to the city.
- You are hearing yourself.
- My horse is able to walk.
- Will you judge yourselves?
- I will be lord of the earth.
- The guest is welcoming you and me.
- I prefer to drink your water, not mine.
- Their weapons are in their own hands.
- The poet is giving me his books.
ΙΙI. Translate into Greek the following underlined pronouns and pronoun/noun pairs.
- Why am I seeking the truth? I am that sort of person.
- We will walk through (διά) every house and welcome all, but receive knowledge from (ἀπό) no one.
- This army will gain no victories with (no preposition; just use the dative to indicate means) these sorts of weapons.
- The priest is sacrificing one of the cows for the king, but none of his bulls.
- I already told you this many things, so now hear this.
Readings