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lesson 4 index     printable pages

  4.3a:  Adjectives of the first and second declension (Type I)

Most of the  nouns of the first declension are feminine (the fewer masculine nouns have a distinctive citation). If an adjective modifies one of these nouns, it will need to agree with it in gender.  In the first three lessons, while we were handling masculine nouns of  the second declension, we used the masculine form of a few adjectives, and we cited them in the vocabulary (inaccurately) as if that were their only form: καλός, σοφός.  Yet since adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify, they need to be flexible with respect to gender. The adjectives we are studying now (which I label "Type I" adjectives) have three endings.   Adjectives should actually be cited in the nominative singular, with all the endings they possess for the three genders, masculine, feminine, and neuter.   

 καλός, καλή, καλόν = fine, good

 σοφός, σοφή, σοφόν= wise

or (a new adjective)

μικρός, μικρά, μικρόν = small

It will be obvious to you that, while the masculine and the neuter follow the models, respectively, of  φίλος and  δῶρον, the feminine has two possible endings:

 -η  /  -α 

Before proceeding further, go to 4.3b, (and print it out or keep it open).  You will find there the declension of the adjectives  σοφός, σοφή, σοφόν  (wise) and  μικρός, μικρά, μικρόν modifying a masculine noun of the second declension,  ὁ ἄνθρωπος (man, human being), and two feminine nouns of the first declension, ἡ γνώμη (proverb, opinion),  ἡ χαρά (joy), and   τὸ δῶρον (gift).   These examples have been chosen so that an  -η feminine adjective is shown with an  -η noun of the first declension,and an -α feminine adjective with an -α noun.  It won't always be so simple!

We will learn later how to predict  the feminine form of an adjective of this type, if you know only the  masculine.  At this time you can at least identify the feminine if the complete citation is given.

EXAMPLES

a)  ἡ ἐμὴ γνώμη οὐκ ἀεὶ¹ ὀρθή ἐστιν.

     .........   S.........                                    PN        V

My opinion is not always right.

b) καὶ² αἱ μικραὶ κόραι καλὰς γνώμας γιγνώσκουσιν.

     adv       .........      S      ..........         .........   D O  .........                        V

Small girls too know fine proverbs.

b)  ἆρ’ (ἆρα)³ οὐ ὁ βίος τῶν καλῶν κορῶν χαλεπός ἐστιν;

                                                S          ...............   gen ...............                PN            V

Isn’t the life of beautiful girls difficult?

Notes

Note 1:   ἀεί (αἰεί) = always.  Adverbs are not declined. 

Note 2:  When  καί does not make sense as a conjunction  = and, it may have the role of an adverb = also, too.

Note 3:   ἆρα often introduces a direct question.  It should not be translated: it is a counterpart of the special intonation of a question, or of our question mark at its end.  In this sentence its final vowel has been cut ("elided") because the next word begins with a vowel.  The loss of the vowel, which will have been natural in the spoken language, is indicated in the spelling and is known as "elision."