1. Lesson 5 Second Declension Nouns

2. Second Declension Nouns (-o"-type)
2nd Decl. -o"-type endings:
Sing. Pl.
Nom. -o" -oi
Gen. -ou -wn
Dat. -w/ -oi"
Acc. -on -ou"
Voc. -e -oi
Example: to,poj (stem = top&)
Sing. Pl.
Nom. tovpo" tovpoi
Gen. tovpou tovpwn
Dat. tovpw/ tovpoi"
Acc. tovpon tovpou"
Voc. tovpe tovpoi
Memorize!
To “decline” a noun is to give all its “cases” in proper order.
Cases indicate grammatical function of noun in sentence (subject, direct object, etc.).
Greek nouns fall into one of three main declension patterns:
1st declension – mostly feminine nouns
2nd declension – mostly masculine and neuter nouns
3rd declension – masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns
2nd declension nouns with nominative in &oj are mostly masculine (a few are fem.).
Noun accent is “persistent” – stays where it is in nom. sing. if it can.

3. Second Declension -o"-type Nouns
Translation:
Sing. Pl.
Nominative tovpo" a place (subj.) tovpoi places (subj.)
Genitive tovpou of/from a place tovpwn of/from places
Dative tovpw/ to/for/by/with/in a place tovpoi" to/for/by/with/in places
Accusative tovpon a place (obj.) tovpou" places (obj.)
Vocative tovpe O, place tovpoi O, places
Greek nouns have 5 or 8 cases (depending on how you count):
Genitive and ablative have same ending = GA or genitive.
Locative, instrumental, dative have same ending = LID or dative.
Locating (parsing) a noun:
Case, gender, number > dictionary form
to,pouj - acc. masc. pl. > to,poj
to,pw| - dat. (or LID) masc. sing. > to,poj
to,pou - gen. (or GA) masc. sing. > to,poj

4. Introduction to “Case”
English pronouns have case forms:
He sees the son. (nominative = subject)
The son sees him. (objective = direct object)
His son is seeing. (possessive = adjective)
English nouns usually do not:
A man sees a son. (nominative = subject)
A son sees a man. (objective = direct object)
A man’s son is seeing. (possessive = adjective)
Note: Spelling of man does not change in # 4 and 5.
How do we know man is subject in 4 but direct object in 5?
By word order—usually subject-verb-direct object.

5. Introduction to “Case”
In Greek, grammatical function of a noun is indicated not by word order but by case endings.
a;nqrwpoj ble,pei ui`o,n) (nominative = subject)
ui`o.j ble,pei a;nqrwpon) (accusative = direct object)
ui`o.j avnqrw,pou ble,pei) (genitive = possession)
Allows word order to be more flexible (not arbitrary):
ginw,skei fi,lon or fi,lon ginw,skei = He knows a friend.
fi,loj ginw,skei or ginw,skei fi,loj = A friend knows.
Rule: Translate by case ending, not by word order.
Learn the basic function and translation of each case as given on the following chart:

6. Greek Cases Abbrev. Case name Basic function Translation Nom.
Nominative
Naming; pointing out; designating.
As subject or predicate nominative.
Gen. or GA
Genitive
Possession; description.
of; ’s.
Ablative
Separation; source.
from; out of.
Dat. or LID
Locative
Location.
in; on; at.
Instrumental
Means by which.
by; with.
Dative
Personal interest; reception.
to; for; indirect object.
Acc.
Accusative
Limit to which action of verb extends.
As direct object.
Voc.
Vocative
Direct address.
As direct address.

7. Translating Greek Nouns
Greek to English: Observe case of noun and translate accordingly.
ginw,skei fi,lon)
He knows a friend.
ginw,skei fi,loj)
A friend knows.
English to Greek: Determine grammatical function needed and choose proper case.
A friend writes.
fi,loj gra,fei)
He sees a friend.
ble,pei fi,lon)
If Greek sentence has noun subject, verb will be in third person. Don’t use “he/she/it/they” in translation.

8. Homework Do declension practice worksheet.
Exercises # 29A (Greek to English):
Locate each noun and verb.
Translate the word or sentence.
Exercises # 29B (English to Greek):
Determine grammatical function of noun.
Choose appropriate case.