Minimurn One:

The End,ings of the First

and, Second Declerusions
IIITTIIIITIIIIITIIIIITTIITIIITII'ITITITIITIIITIIITTTITTTII

In This Lesson:
) Vocabulary
) Endings of the First and Second Declensions
) Minimum One
) The Definite Article
) Uses of the Pronoun

) Uses of the Adjective

) Exercises
..IIITTT I II I I I I T T] I T'TI I I I T T I T I I I I !T I T I T T T I TT T I II T I II I TI TI
20 LEssoN 3

PART ONE: Vocobulory

In all the vocabulary lists, the gender of a noun is indicated by the definite article in front
of the noun. The definite article (the") is: 6 for the masculine, t6 for the neuter, and rl
for the feminine. For adjectives and pronouns, the masculine form is given in fulIfollowed
by the ending of the neuter gender and then the feminine gender.

The English translations reflect the gender distinctions (e.g., for auroq, -o, -q, the
translations would be: "he, it, she," respectively).

Information given in brackets is to. assist the learning-it is information about words
derived from the Greeh not the definition. See second and fourth words below. Any time
an English translation is identical to the Greek, it will appear in bold rype, as in the third
entry below.

Port A.
o, To, n the [definite article for the three genders: masculine,
neuter, feminine, respectively]
aya069 --ov, -l' good, usefrrl [girlt name: Agatha]
6 &yyeAoq angel, messenger
d,Moq,-o, -rl' other, another [allocate, allotment, etc.]
,it 4, amen, verily, truly, so let it be
6 &v0qornoq person, human being, man, mankind, people,
humankind, [anthropology]'
6 an6oroAog aposde, envoy, messenger
aut6q, -o, -l he, it, she [him/itlherselfl [automatic]

\paotAeta. kingdom [basilica (in a palace)]

pAina I see, look at
66 but, and
r1 b6Ea glory, majesry fame [doxology]

l. \7hen the dditbnal endings are given with the vocabulary in this manner, it should be clear that all three genders are
involved (pronouns and adectives).
2. The ending for this adlectve is an exception to the rule, for it follows the pronouns by dropping the final "v" in the neuter
gender.
3. Even the "ologr- pen of this word comes from A6yog-given in the list below. \7atch for many words with this ending.
 lAinimum one 2I
iyrb I ["go]
3rcelvog, -o, -rl that
LXco I have, hold feche-to hold a sound]

ie,ui fife [zoology]

6 O€oq God, god [theology, theocratic, atheist, etc.]
rcaL and, even, also, namely
6 rcarq6g time (appointed), season (kind of time=good/bad
times)a
q rcaq6h heart [cardiology, etc.]
6 rc6opog world, universe, humankind [cosmology, cosmedcs, \
etc.]
A'tya I say, speak [cf Aoyog]
6 A6yoq word,'W'ord, speech, message [all ofthe--ologies="study
of ..", geolory, theolory, psycholory, etc.]5
vOv now
6 nqoQrlqq prophet
rt Qorv4 sound, noise, voice, language [All of the ,.phone,,
words: megaphone, telephone, phonedcs, etc.]
61q6vog time [chronologyl (in contrast with xa46g given
above)

Port B.
()
. n qo(m1 love (this is the love that exists at all times with no
conditioirs)
dMd but, yet, except
{ dpagia sin fto miss the mark-hnown and unknoun "misses"
as compared to uansgressions and trespasses which
are known misses = naeagaoq and r';aqarcroopa
respectively]

4. Dickenst Tah ofTwo Cities $va us an excellent enample: 'It was rhc best of times; it was the worst of times." This
is in
@ntmst to chronological time, Xg6vog below.
5. Even the 6rst portions ofthese words are from the Greek language: eamh, God, and soul, respectively.
22 LES5ON 3

o(no gen: (away)from [apostasy-to fallfrom;apocrypha-

tolidefiorn, etc.)
yaq for, then (do not confuse with the preposirion "for")
yarltorccrs I know (relational knowledge; see o[6a below for the
difference) [noun: /vclo6 =fu1owledge, agnostic]
6Lo( gen: through; acc: on account of [dialog=16 1x1L
through...; diagram]
irc, iL6 gen: from, out of
[exit]
€v dat: in, on, among (translated: utith I by about 20
percent of the time)
r1 €[ouoia authority, power [versus 6fvaplq=physical power
(dynamite)l
t6 6qyov work, deed, action [energy]
t6 etayydArov good news, Gospel [evangelism]
eryia I seek, desire, try to obtain
rllp€qa d^y
\ 1aAaooa sea, lake

rorr6q, -ov, -l evil, bad, wrong [cacophony and cacographyl

raA,ia I call, name, invite
o rcuQroq Lord, lord, master, sir
LaA,(.a I speak, say
oi6a7 I know, understand [intellectual knowing versus
relational knowing in yrvcborco; compare: German
as
wissen versus hennen or Spanish sabervercus conocerl

oTr that, since, because [same form as the neuter indefinite

pronoun-which is rare in the NT]
ou, ouK, oux no, not [the spelling depends on the first letter of the
following word: consonant, vowel or rough breather,
respectively. The meaning is not changed. These
variations are a part of the indicative mode only
6. it when followiagrorrd begios with a vowel or diphthong.
7. This is an old pc6ct * ' -r is trenslated as a present tense..
 ftAinimum One ?3

6 ougav6g heaven,sky [Uranos]

ofitog, toito, a0t1 singular: this lplural: these] [neuter plural:
ta0ta=tautology]
oapparov Sabbath, seventh day
o"0 you (singular)
6 ulog son
rl rlea hour, moment
6ote therefore, so that

PART TWO: The Endings of the First ond Second Declensions

Using dya06q
fu noted previously, the designation "Minirnlm" represents a major element in the
book The endings of dya06q, used to represent this minirnum, in all three genders, must be
mastered!
'With
good modvation, for these three endings are the endings ofthe foll owing43 declensions
in spelling patterns one and two (the "first" and "second" declensions). Keep in mind that
pronouns, adjectives, and participles all have three forms, one for each gender.
. Nouns in all three genders = three declensions
. Pronouns: personal (3); two demonstratives (6); relative (3); and the refexive (7)
= nineteen declensions
. Adjectives (3) including the definit'e article (3) in all genders = six declensions
. The middle/passive participle: future middle (3),t present (3), aoriste (middle only)
(3), perfect (3) = twelve declensions
. For theferninine gender only, the aorist and perfect participles in active (2) and the
aorist passive participle (1) = thre. declensions.

The endings of dya}oq("good") are, therefore, the backbone of a major building block.
Master these three forms and you know the endings of 43 forms!

8. The future passive could be included, but it only occurs in Heb. 3:5, and there it is regular.
9. The term "aorist" is the term used in conventional textbooks for the past tense (indicative mode).
24 LEssON 3

means each of the four major

Here is the declension of dya}6q (as noted, a declension
cases in both singular and plural)'

Masculine Neuter Feminine

Srucuren
aya96q ctyoLO1.
Nom. =aYa06v
Gen. oryoLOou aYaooO sryot9ns
Dat. oryot9(,o
' otYot0q a1zaofl
Acc. aya06v a1za06v aya0tlv

Pruner
Nom. ayaOot ayaOa ayot9ai
Gen. o-'yaOov ayaOc,tv aya0r6'tt
Dat. aya9olq aya9oiq ayaOoriq
Acc. ayotOobq ayaOa ayalaq
'w'e have omitted rhe vocative case-the case used for addressing someon^e (e'g" Ladies and
to the Nominative for plural forms and
Gentlemen, I now stand ...). The vocative case is identical
for most of the singular forms and is easily recognized from
context'
the same is true
the same for
Look again at the three columns above at the genitive plural-endi'glk.is
all three genders. In fact, -<^w is the only genitive pluralin
NT Greek! This is true for all
declensions and Parts ofsPeech.

Also, look closely at the neuter gender. In the neuter gender, the
nominative
accusative (both singular ana plural) *e aluaysidentical-.9h:1i"n3n
tJrat

in allnette, g".d"rLrds, inlluding participles (second and third declensions)!

the two nomi
That is, there are7rut tuto mdings to learnfor the neuter gender,
(singular and plural). Lnlis is emphasized in table below'
 Minimum one 25
Reason for this, as it is demonstrated in the table below: the nominative is repeated for the
accusative (shown by the curved arrows), and the genitive and datives are the same as the
masculine (shown by the straight arrows).

In all of the 43 forms referred to above, the change occurs after the letters: aya0, and it is
the remaining letters, the underlined portions, we refer to as the "Minimum."

Minirnum One

MescuuNE NBurEn FruININnlo

SrNcur-nn
Nom. -og _T
Gen. -ou -1ls
Dat. -a -n
Acc. -ov -qv
Pruner
Nom. -ot -&L
Gen. ")
-(r)v -G)V
Dat. -org -dlq
Acc. -oug -eq
As noted above, these endings are the endings for all first and second declension nouns,
pronouns, adectives, and middle/passive participles.lt
m fhere are four variations ofthe first declension singular, discussed below in this lesson in which the final letter ofthe
- iirt singular can be a long or short "i"-q or a.
ilt la observed earlier, the aorist passive participle is an exception. It is built on the active voice and is discussed in the Lesson
firg&ipia.
I
I
I
I
I
26 LEssoN s

The followingwords are examples ofthis significant reladonship. Observe that the endings
given above for aya06g are essentially identical with the endings of the examples below.

Nor ns
Masculine l6'pe-word
Neuter Eglov-work
Feminine Qr^rvr;-voice
Pronouns
Mescur,rut: [All these wordg have the same ending as the masculine drya€lbE]
xbrr:,q he (3'd personal pronoun)
o{rtog rhis (demonstrative pronoun-near)
irceivog that (demonstrative pronoun-far)
6s who/which (relative pronoun)
Nnurnn: [AIl neuterpronoans have the same ending as the neuter adjective d.ya06v
and neuter nsuns-rninus the final "v" in the nom. and acc. singular.]
arito it (3d personal pronoun)
To0ro this (demonstrative pronoun-near)
ircenp that (demonstrative pronoun-far)
6 which (relative pronoun)
FrNrrNtNs: [All these words have the same ending as the feminine ayaenl
a.nq she (3'd personal pronoun)
aiitrl this (demonstrative pronoun-near)
drceivrl that (demonstrative pronoun-far)
n who/which (relative pronoun)
Adjectives
Masculine: seeaya06s
Neuter: see aya06v
Feminine: see aya0ri

PART THREE: The Definite Article "the."

The endings of aya06g also form the endings of the def.nite articlc. Add "rough"
breafier to the masculine and feminine nominatioe endings (singluar and plural)"and the
lemer'g" to all other endings. Look again at the endings of dya0ilg on page 24, then
note the application of the points just made.
 tlAinimum Ote 27
This is the definite article (Minimum One-the endings of dya06g in red, and the
changei mentioned above):

Mescu-nre Nmrren Fnrunur.rn

Swcu.an
Nom. o rl
Gen. roO tnc
Dat. d;) lrl
Acc. !ov ) tnv
Pruur
Nom. oL !4r da
Gen. 1ti,1, \ trfrlV
Dat. iq--+ ) gdlre
Acc. pus / gLs

A Helpful Note- About the Endings of the First Declension

In the First Declension, there are three variations in the endings of the singular ofay o.?n_
long q and short a (no variation in the plural). The first three are feminine, and the fourth
pattern is, suangely, masculine.

SnlcuLen
Qorvn " rcag6ia yLCoooa ngoQrpqs
Nom. --n -oL -d, -qq
Gen. -Is .dq ns -ou
Dat. -n -q ar;l
-11
Acc. -rlv -a,v -dv -Iv
Prunm [The rrruners ARE THE sAME FoRALL FouR ronus]
Nom. -&L
Gen. -(r)v
Dat. -d,lq
Acc. -d.g
h is this pattern that follows the feminine endings of aya06q ending chosen for Minimum One because all
-the
and over half of the feminine adjectives and nouns are built on this pattern.
32 LEssoN

8. Lya p),tnr^; tov Xgtotov rQ or)qavQ ral tQ rc6oprrp.

9. to0to 6qyov ayaOdt

10. q apaqtia our 6otl (it is) ev tQ ouqavQ

11. ou yaq Ltytt to0q A6'youq tqg a1aqruo.q, vOv pA€rcc.r tdv 06ov

12. o Oeoq oryo.rcq

13, Irloo0q rcriqrLoq rcaI XqrLot6q

t4. fi paoAela. tr;q 6oEqs rcal toO ouqavou

 llAinimum One 31
7. tyr,l ror:g A6youg rrle earle toig avOgdsnoq toO rc6o;.rou

8. Lya pA,tnro tdv Xgrot6v trle 66Eqs

9. rcai vtv il pao&elato0 Oeou iy€veto (has come) tQ rc6oprrr, opr4,

10. AUro ayaOov

11. iycb Atya tQ lldtgrp

12. o[ nqoQqtat toO Oeou A€youow (hhe/ are speaking) toJq A6youg tqg
rcaqb(ag tr;1ayaOr;1 Qr,rvn toLg avOqrhnog to0 rc6opou

13. autoq ayaOog 6 dyytloq, aOto[ aya0ol o[ dyyeAor

1,4. oayaOoq &yye/toqauroq

15. 6 an6oroAog 6 ayaOoq A€yer ([he] is speaking) trl rcaerir rQ ctya€lQ

16. o[ aya0ol oi. nqoQfltar Adyouorv ([they] are speaking) torg avOg 6notg
torq rcarcolg.

Port Two
l. tors Eqyore t6v avOg 6nc,sv
2. oftor oi. a'yaOol oi nqoQrjtat rie pao/.ttnq
3. rQ Loyq toO @eoO rcal ourc ev tr;1 rcaqrbi4 toO &Mou ayydMou
4. vfv Adyr^r toOg A6youq rrlg ecoig toiq ayaOorg toig nqoQrltatg ev tQ
rc6oprp

5. tXc-r to euayy6Arov autoiq

6. q qctnn toO 0eo0
7. 11 t[ououa toO rcuq[ou
30 LESSON 3

Remembe?...
. The third personal pronoun: orbr6q, ocbr6; nbri [he, it, she]: the word declines
just like dya06q-6, -4 except the "v" drops offin the neuter nom. and acc.
. This dropping of the "v'l occurs in all neuter gender pronouns. The third personal
pronoun as well as the relative pronoun, the demonstrative pronoun, etc. Some
adjectives are also affected, e.g., the definite article and &Moq, referred to earlier.

. Neuter nouns and adjectives follow the neuter form of the adjective aya06v, the
form found in MinimumOne.

PART SIX: Exercises

Instruction for All Exercises in the Book
To benefit from the exercises to the fullest extent, y,ou need to be able to parse
each word in every passage as well as give a smooth English translation. This
:ilssrues y'ou that you are not iust memorizing either the key to the translation in
Appendix B or the translation of an English Bible.

Port One
Proper nouns are not given in vocabuluy lists but they do show up in the exercises. These
proper nouns will not create any difficulty if they are pronounced out loud-the recognition
is usually immediate.

1. roTq ayytAorg tQ rc6oprrp

2. o[ dv0qronor trle f o.LrLuo.,q

3. o aya0oq oAoy6q

4- p),tna toug anoot6Aoug rouq ayaOodq, A,tyouow (they are speaking)

rq dyaOn Q,rvri

5. q 66t4 too 0eo0

6. dl os n@rlrnq trlq 66[rls

 Minimum one 29
PART FIVE: The Use of the Adjective
The Tronslotion of Adjectives: Attributive or Predicotive
Note the differences in the following two English senrences:
. The good man is going to church.
. The man is good.

In the first example we have the attributive use of the adjective "good"-"good" is
being attributed.
In the second statement we have the predicative use-we are predicating the
statement that the man ls good.

Fundamental rule: the attributive function always has the definite article preceding the
adjective (whether there is or is not a definite article in front of the noun being modified is
irrelevant). \7hen the adjective does not have a definite article in front of it, it is probably
the predicate function, but could also be attributive.l3

Examples of the attributiae function. Observe that the word order does not make any
difference, nor does the article or absence of the article with the noun make any difFerence.
\)7hat is true of all the examples: The adjective always has the definite article in front of
it. Each example is translated: "The good man."
' 6 dya0dg ctvOqc.;noq
. ctvOqrconoq 6 dya06g
. odvOg,oiaoqbdya06g
Examples of thepredicare function. Observe the abimrg of the article with the adjective:
These examples could be translated: "The I a man is good."
. ayaOog &vOqr^-rnoq
. civ0go-rnoq aya)oq
i h some instances the above examples of the predicate function could also be attributive.
Context eliminates the ambiguity of the so-called "predicate" position.

6- Vhen this occurs, the translator will immediately recognize the construction.
28 LEssON 3

: Gurious
,,,For,,rtfie r.

:: . (Not Required) ,

1fuu do iiol need itti understand the contenr of this box to work with NT Greek, for as::poinred: out
uord is already done for you!

$egardrqg,.xaqbr,a and yAtixrcra (both end w]$ an a):,If the ao€abularyfqym of the feminine noun ends
ririth a v*riation of the q, an.a, there are two.poisible prrtterns: ooe is that the a replaces dre 11 all the way
through the singular, and the second is a combinarion of the 11 and a endings for the singular. fie nrle
given here for the rwo possibilities explains the reason for the variation.

Pattern one (rag&ra): If the final a has what l call a "rye" Ietter (q r e) letter in font of the a, the ,a is
retained $roughout the singular=rcaqbia. Pattern rwo (yr\t oqa): lf the final a does not have "ry."
^
letter (g ic) letter in front of the a, an 11 is used in the genirive and dative singular (rhe leners used in
these cases in aya01).
tWhat is ruritten here abouttheforrnation ffirst declension nouns also applies to theformarion ffirst declension
'djntiuo'To illustrate: thestem for FtKq6qis pr-Ke. Because rhe stem ends wirh one of the "rye" lerters
{g), the feminine form will have an alpha in all the singular endings just like the noun rcaqbia.

PART FOUR: Helpful Notes on the Personol Pronoun:

Because beginning students want the first rule or definition given to remain unchangeable,
these points are simply mentioned to alert you to other options. There are times when the
third personal pronoun (a0t6q-"he") is used as an adjective or to show emphasis.
. \(hen there is no definite article in front of the pronoun, the purpose is to show
emphasis. For exar4ple,.o d.v0gr^rfioq otbro€ = "rhe man himself."
. However, ifan ardcle precedes the pronoun, 6 &v0gonog 6 a0t6g, the pronoun
is translated "same" making the translation: "the same man."

Do nor be concerned at this point about these distincrions.

Other personal pronouns are often included even though the pronoun is found within
the verb itself. In such cases, the addition of the personal pronoun is used for emphasis
since rhe subiect is already found in the verb. For example: tydr A,tya = I myself am
speaking.