"One paradigm to rule them all. Eight rules to find them...."
| Decl. | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Gender | M | F | N | M-F | N | |
| Nom. S. | ς | — | ν | ς | — | |
| Gen. S. | υ | ς | υ | ος | ος | |
| Dat. S. | ι | ι | ι | ι | ι | |
| Acc. S. | ν | ν | ν | α/ν | — | |
| Nom. P. | ι | ι | α | ες | α | |
| Gen. P. | ων | ων | ων | ων | ων | |
| Dat. P. | ις | ις | ις | σι(ν) | σι(ν) | |
| Acc. P. | υς | ς | α | ας | α | |
- Stems ending in alpha α or eta
η are in the first declension.
First declension nouns typically feminine (although there are masculine ones as well).
Stems ending in omicron ο are in the second declension, and consonantal stems are in the third declension.
- Every neuter word has the same form in the nominative and
accusative.
- Almost all neuter words end in alpha in the nominative and
accusative plural.
In the second declension, the alpha is the changed stem vowel. In the third declension it is the case ending.
- In the dative singular, the iota subscripts if possible.
Because the iota can only subscript under a vowel (in which case the vowel lengthens), it subscripts only in the first and second declensions.
- Vowels often change their length.
Contraction occurs when two vowels meet and form a different vowel or diphthong.
λογο + ι = λόγῳ (dative singular)
λογο + ο = λόγου (genitive singular)
γραφη + ων = γραφῶν (genitive plural →
the omega of the genitive
plural will absorb
any preceding vowel)
Compensatory lengthening occurs when a vowel is lengthened to compensate for the loss of another letter.
λογο + νς = λόγος >> λόγους (accusative plural)
- In the genitive and dative, the masculine and neuter will always be
the same.
- The seventh rule is "the
stops chart".
Labial π β φ Velar κ γ χ Dental τ δ θ Labial + σ = ψ
Velar + σ = ξ
Dental + σ = σ
The ντ combination drops out when followed by a sigma (παντ + ς = πᾶς).
Whatever happens in the nominative singular third declension also happens in the dative plural.
σαρκ + ς = σάρξ.
σαρκ + σι = σαρξί
- A tau τ cannot stand at the end of a
word, and will drop off. For example, with
*ὀνοματ, no case ending is used in the nominative singular, and
the final τ drops off.
When no case ending is used in stems ending in —ματ, the τ drops out.
Hence, *ὀνοματ + — = ὄνομα
While http://goethe.ca/acts/Noun_Reference_Sheet.htm is not much good as a primary way to learn nouns, it is a useful comparison sheet to use as you review how the paradigm chart and these eight rules work.
You can download a PDF of this paradigm and the 8 rules to stick in your Greek New Testament.
You can also go below to the section titled "Analyzing Nouns on Your Own".
πᾶς (each, every, all) is 3-1-3 type of adjective. That is, the masculine and neuter follow the third declension, while the feminine follows the second declension. The root of the word, in masculine and neuter, is *παντ. In the feminine, this is altered to *πασα.
Armed with this knowledge, plus the 8 rules, you should be able to write out the whole paradigm for this word on your own.
After you try this, click on the heading for "Case Endings for πᾶς" just below, and see how well you did.
Click on any of the headings below to expand the contents of that section.
