Lesson 3
First Declension
Case functions; feminine a- and η-stem nouns; masculine nouns in -ης.
Cases
English shows a noun's job mostly by word order: 'the man sees the house' means something different from 'the house sees the man'. Greek instead changes the ending of the noun itself. These endings are called cases, and because the ending does the work, Greek word order is much freer than English.
The five cases you need: nominative marks the subject, the person or thing the clause says something about. Genitive often shows possession or another relationship, commonly translated 'of'. Dative can mark a recipient or means, translated 'to', 'for', 'by', or 'with'. Accusative commonly marks the direct object, as 'a prophet' in 'a disciple sees a prophet'. Vocative is used for direct address, like calling someone's name.
Subject and object describe jobs in a sentence. The subject does not always perform an action: in 'the disciple is taught', the disciple is still the subject. These first case meanings are starting points; a verb or a preposition can call for a particular case too.
A declension is a family of nouns that share patterns of endings. We begin with the first declension: mostly feminine nouns like ἀρχή ('beginning'), ὥρα ('hour'), and δόξα ('glory'), plus some masculine nouns like προφήτης ('prophet'). Learn how their endings show case and number before moving to the second declension in lesson 4.
- μαθητὴς βλέπει προφήτην. — A disciple (nominative) sees a prophet (accusative).
- λέγω προφήτῃ. — I speak to a prophet (dative).
- φωνὴ προφήτου — a prophet's voice (genitive of possession)
Three patterns
The first declension is the family of mostly feminine nouns whose stems end in α or η. The good news: every first-declension noun has the same plural endings (-αι, -ων, -αις, -ας), so you only need to sort out the singular.
The singular comes in three flavors, and the difference is only whether α or η appears. The η-type (ἀρχή, 'beginning') keeps η all through the singular. The α-pure type (ὥρα, 'hour') keeps α all through the singular — this happens when the stem ends in ε, ι, or ρ, a combination where Greek disliked the sound of η. The mixed type (δόξα, 'glory') has α in the nominative and accusative but η in the genitive and dative.
Learn a noun's genitive singular alongside its nominative (e.g. δόξα, -ης); that second form helps identify the pattern. The genitive ending -ης signals mixed or η-type; -ας signals α-pure.
- ἀρχή, -ῆς — beginning (η throughout: ἀρχῆς, ἀρχῇ, ἀρχήν)
- ὥρα, -ας — hour (α throughout: ὥρας, ὥρᾳ, ὥραν)
- δόξα, -ης — glory (mixed: δόξης, δόξῃ, δόξαν)
Masculine first declension
Some first-declension nouns are masculine — mostly words for male people: προφήτης ('prophet'), μαθητής ('disciple'), νεανίας ('young man'). Their endings mostly follow the feminine patterns, but the singular nominative ends in -ης or -ας and the genitive in -ου: προφήτης becomes προφήτου, 'of a prophet'. You will also meet the genitive ending -ου in the second declension in lesson 4.
Gender is a grammatical property of a noun; a declension is its pattern of endings. So sharing a declension does not mean sharing a gender: προφήτης is masculine, while ἀρχή is feminine. Learn each noun's gender with its spelling and genitive form. Lesson 5 will show how the article ('the') also identifies gender.
- φωνὴ προφήτου — a prophet's voice (masculine genitive -ου)
- μαθητὴς ἀκούει φωνήν. — A disciple hears a voice (masculine subject, feminine object).
Paradigms
ἀρχή — 1st Declension (η-type)
Lesson 3
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ἀρχή | ἀρχαί |
| Genitive | ἀρχῆς | ἀρχῶν |
| Dative | ἀρχῇ | ἀρχαῖς |
| Accusative | ἀρχήν | ἀρχάς |
| Vocative | ἀρχή | ἀρχαί |
ὥρα — 1st Declension (α-pure)
Lesson 3
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | ὥρα | ὧραι |
| Genitive | ὥρας | ὡρῶν |
| Dative | ὥρᾳ | ὥραις |
| Accusative | ὥραν | ὥρας |
| Vocative | ὥρα | ὧραι |
δόξα — 1st Declension (mixed)
Lesson 3
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | δόξα | δόξαι |
| Genitive | δόξης | δοξῶν |
| Dative | δόξῃ | δόξαις |
| Accusative | δόξαν | δόξας |
| Vocative | δόξα | δόξαι |
προφήτης — 1st Declension Masculine
Lesson 3
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | προφήτης | προφῆται |
| Genitive | προφήτου | προφητῶν |
| Dative | προφήτῃ | προφήταις |
| Accusative | προφήτην | προφήτας |
| Vocative | προφῆτα | προφῆται |
Vocabulary (15)
- ἀρχή, ἡ
- beginning, origin; rule, authority
- ἀγάπη, ἡ
- love
- γραφή, ἡ
- writing, Scripture
- ζωή, ἡ
- life
- φωνή, ἡ
- voice, sound
- ψυχή, ἡ
- soul, life, self
- ἐντολή, ἡ
- command, commandment
- ἡμέρα, ἡ
- day
- ὥρα, ἡ
- hour, time of day
- καρδία, ἡ
- heart
- οἰκία, ἡ
- house, dwelling
- δόξα, ἡ
- glory, splendor, honor
- θάλασσα, ἡ
- sea
- προφήτης, ὁ
- prophet, revealer of God's will
- μαθητής, ὁ
- learner, pupil, disciple
Exercises
Constructed exercises (10)
Translate each sentence into English using the vocabulary and grammar taught so far. Compare your work with the model answers. Other valid translations are welcome; there is no automatic grading.
Sign in to save answers and review marks across visits. Until then, they last for this visit.
0 / 10 reviewed · 0 to revisit
1. Writing and learning
γραφὴ διδάσκει μαθητάς.
- A writing teaches disciples.
2. A prophet speaks
προφήτης λέγει ὅτι ἀγάπη σῴζει ψυχάς.
- A prophet says that love saves lives.
3. A voice
ἀκούομεν φωνὴν προφήτου.
- We hear a prophet’s voice.
4. Disciples and commandments
μαθηταὶ ἔχουσιν ἐντολάς.
- Disciples have commandments.
5. Sea and houses
βλέπομεν θάλασσαν καὶ οἰκίας.
- We see a sea and houses.
6. Writing to a prophet
προφήτῃ γράφομεν ἐντολήν.
- We write a commandment to a prophet.
7. Glory
δόξαν οὐ θέλομεν.
- We do not desire glory.
8. A beginning
ἀρχὴν ζωῆς βλέπομεν.
- We see the beginning of life.
9. Heart and love
καρδίᾳ πιστεύομεν καὶ ἀγάπην ἔχομεν.
- We believe with the heart and have love.
10. Hours and days
ὥρας καὶ ἡμέρας ἔχομεν.
- We have hours and days.
New Testament exercises (12)
Greek → English: translate each reading. Use the reading aids below each exercise for unfamiliar words and forms.
Ellipses mark omitted source words. There is no automatic grading.
Sign in to save answers and review marks across visits. Until then, they last for this visit.
0 / 12 reviewed · 0 to revisit
1. John 1:4 · verse
ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων·
Reading aids (8) for exercise 1
- ἐν
- in
- αὐτῷ
- him/it (dative)
- ἦν
- was
- ἡ
- the
- τὸ
- the
- φῶς
- light (neuter singular)
- τῶν
- the
- ἀνθρώπων
- people (genitive plural form)
2. John 5:41–42 · verses
δόξαν παρὰ ἀνθρώπων οὐ λαμβάνω, ἀλλὰ ἔγνωκα ὑμᾶς ὅτι τὴν ἀγάπην τοῦ θεοῦ οὐκ ἔχετε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς.
Reading aids (10) for exercise 2
- παρὰ
- from (+ genitive here)
- ἀνθρώπων
- people (genitive plural form)
- λαμβάνω
- I receive
- ἀλλὰ
- but
- ἔγνωκα
- I know (perfect form)
- ὑμᾶς
- you (plural, object)
- τὴν
- the
- τοῦ θεοῦ
- of God
- ἐν
- in
- ἑαυτοῖς
- yourselves (plural, dative)
3. Matthew 4:10 · verse
τότε λέγει αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς· Ὕπαγε, Σατανᾶ· γέγραπται γάρ· Κύριον τὸν θεόν σου προσκυνήσεις καὶ αὐτῷ μόνῳ λατρεύσεις.
Reading aids (15) for exercise 3
- τότε
- then
- αὐτῷ
- him/it (dative)
- ὁ
- the
- Ἰησοῦς
- Jesus
- Ὕπαγε
- go away!
- Σατανᾶ
- Satan (direct-address form)
- γέγραπται
- it is written
- γάρ
- for; introduces a reason
- Κύριον
- the Lord (object form)
- τὸν
- the
- θεόν
- God
- σου
- your (singular)
- προσκυνήσεις
- you shall worship (singular)
- μόνῳ
- only, alone
- λατρεύσεις
- you shall serve (singular)
4. John 2:22 · excerpt
ὅτε οὖν ἠγέρθη ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἐμνήσθησαν οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ ὅτι τοῦτο ἔλεγεν, καὶ ἐπίστευσαν τῇ γραφῇ καὶ τῷ λόγῳ …
Reading aids (14) for exercise 4
- ὅτε
- when
- οὖν
- therefore, then (postpositive)
- ἠγέρθη
- he was raised
- ἐκ
- out of, from (+ genitive)
- νεκρῶν
- the dead (genitive plural)
- ἐμνήσθησαν
- they remembered
- οἱ
- the
- αὐτοῦ
- his
- τοῦτο
- this
- ἔλεγεν
- he was saying / used to say
- ἐπίστευσαν
- they believed / gave credence to
- τῇ
- the
- τῷ
- the
- λόγῳ
- word, message (dative singular)
5. Mark 4:39 · excerpt
… ἐπετίμησεν τῷ ἀνέμῳ καὶ εἶπεν τῇ θαλάσσῃ· Σιώπα, πεφίμωσο. καὶ ἐκόπασεν ὁ ἄνεμος, καὶ ἐγένετο γαλήνη μεγάλη.
Reading aids (13) for exercise 5
- ἐπετίμησεν
- he rebuked
- τῷ
- the
- ἀνέμῳ
- wind
- εἶπεν
- he said
- τῇ
- the
- Σιώπα
- be silent!
- πεφίμωσο
- be still! (literally, be muzzled)
- ἐκόπασεν
- it ceased, abated
- ὁ
- the
- ἄνεμος
- wind
- ἐγένετο
- there came to be
- γαλήνη
- calm
- μεγάλη
- great, large
6. 1 Peter 1:9 · verse
κομιζόμενοι τὸ τέλος τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν σωτηρίαν ψυχῶν.
Reading aids (7) for exercise 6
- κομιζόμενοι
- as you receive (plural; continues the preceding sentence)
- τὸ
- the
- τέλος
- outcome, result
- τῆς
- the
- πίστεως
- faith (genitive singular)
- ὑμῶν
- your (plural); of you
- σωτηρίαν
- salvation
7. Matthew 11:13 · verse
πάντες γὰρ οἱ προφῆται καὶ ὁ νόμος ἕως Ἰωάννου ἐπροφήτευσαν·
Reading aids (8) for exercise 7
- πάντες
- all, every
- γὰρ
- for; introduces a reason
- οἱ
- the
- ὁ
- the
- νόμος
- law
- ἕως
- until (+ genitive here)
- Ἰωάννου
- John (genitive)
- ἐπροφήτευσαν
- they prophesied
8. John 5:39 · excerpt
Ἐραυνᾶτε τὰς γραφάς, ὅτι ὑμεῖς δοκεῖτε ἐν αὐταῖς ζωὴν αἰώνιον ἔχειν· …
Reading aids (7) for exercise 8
- Ἐραυνᾶτε
- you search; alternatively, search! (same form)
- τὰς
- the
- ὑμεῖς
- you (plural)
- δοκεῖτε
- you think (plural)
- ἐν
- in
- αὐταῖς
- in/to them (feminine plural)
- αἰώνιον
- eternal (describes ζωήν)
9. John 9:17 · verse
λέγουσιν οὖν τῷ τυφλῷ πάλιν· Τί σὺ λέγεις περὶ αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἠνέῳξέν σου τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν ὅτι Προφήτης ἐστίν.
Reading aids (16) for exercise 9
- οὖν
- therefore, then (postpositive)
- τῷ
- the
- τυφλῷ
- the blind man (dative form)
- πάλιν
- again
- Τί
- what?
- σὺ
- you (singular)
- περὶ
- (+gen) concerning; (+acc) around
- αὐτοῦ
- his
- ἠνέῳξέν
- he opened
- σου
- your (singular)
- τοὺς
- the
- ὀφθαλμούς
- eyes (object plural)
- ὁ
- the
- δὲ
- and, but (postpositive)
- εἶπεν
- he said
- ἐστίν
- he is
10. Acts 23:17 · excerpt
… δὲ ὁ Παῦλος ἕνα τῶν ἑκατονταρχῶν ἔφη· Τὸν νεανίαν τοῦτον ἄπαγε πρὸς τὸν χιλίαρχον, ἔχει γὰρ ἀπαγγεῖλαί τι αὐτῷ.
Reading aids (18) for exercise 10
- δὲ
- and, but (postpositive)
- ὁ
- the
- Παῦλος
- Paul
- ἕνα
- one (object form)
- τῶν
- the
- ἑκατονταρχῶν
- centurions (genitive plural)
- ἔφη
- he said
- Τὸν
- the
- νεανίαν
- young man
- τοῦτον
- this one (object)
- ἄπαγε
- take / lead away!
- πρὸς
- to/toward; with (+ accusative here)
- τὸν
- the
- χιλίαρχον
- commander
- γὰρ
- for; introduces a reason
- ἀπαγγεῖλαί
- to report
- τι
- something
- αὐτῷ
- him/it (dative)
11. Luke 10:7 · excerpt
ἐν αὐτῇ δὲ τῇ οἰκίᾳ μένετε, …
Reading aids (5) for exercise 11
- ἐν
- in
- αὐτῇ
- that same (describes the house here)
- δὲ
- and, but (postpositive)
- τῇ
- the
- μένετε
- remain! (plural; command here)
12. Mark 13:35 · verse
γρηγορεῖτε οὖν, οὐκ οἴδατε γὰρ πότε ὁ κύριος τῆς οἰκίας ἔρχεται, ἢ ὀψὲ ἢ μεσονύκτιον ἢ ἀλεκτοροφωνίας ἢ πρωΐ,
Reading aids (14) for exercise 12
- γρηγορεῖτε
- keep watch! (plural)
- οὖν
- therefore, then (postpositive)
- οἴδατε
- you know (plural)
- γὰρ
- for; introduces a reason
- πότε
- when?
- ὁ
- the
- κύριος
- lord, master; the Lord
- τῆς
- the
- ἔρχεται
- he comes / is coming
- ἢ
- either ... or; or
- ὀψὲ
- in the evening
- μεσονύκτιον
- midnight
- ἀλεκτοροφωνίας
- cockcrow
- πρωΐ
- early in the morning
Septuagint (LXX) exercises (8)
Greek → English: translate each reading. Use the reading aids below each exercise for unfamiliar words and forms.
Ellipses mark omitted source words. There is no automatic grading.
Sign in to save answers and review marks across visits. Until then, they last for this visit.
0 / 8 reviewed · 0 to revisit
1. Deuteronomy 29:3 (English Deuteronomy 29:4) · verse
καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὑμῖν καρδίαν εἰδέναι καὶ ὀφθαλμοὺς βλέπειν καὶ ὦτα ἀκούειν ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης
Reading aids (9) for exercise 1
- ἔδωκεν
- he gave
- κύριος ὁ θεὸς
- the Lord God
- ὑμῖν
- to you (plural)
- εἰδέναι
- to know (perfect infinitive with present meaning)
- ὀφθαλμοὺς
- eyes
- ὦτα
- ears
- ἕως
- until
- τῆς
- the (genitive singular)
- ταύτης
- this (agreeing with ἡμέρας)
2. 3 Kingdoms 3:9 (1 Kings 3:9) · excerpt
καὶ δώσεις τῷ δούλῳ σου καρδίαν ἀκούειν καὶ διακρίνειν τὸν λαόν σου …
Reading aids (7) for exercise 2
- δώσεις
- you will give (singular)
- τῷ
- to/for the
- δούλῳ
- servant
- σου
- your (singular)
- διακρίνειν
- to discern, judge
- τὸν
- the (accusative masculine singular)
- λαόν
- people
3. Psalm 3:3 (English Psalm 3:2) · verse
πολλοὶ λέγουσιν τῇ ψυχῇ μου οὐκ ἔστιν σωτηρία αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ θεῷ αὐτοῦ διάψαλμα
Reading aids (9) for exercise 3
- πολλοὶ
- many people
- τῇ
- to/for the
- μου
- my
- ἔστιν
- there is
- σωτηρία
- salvation, deliverance
- αὐτῷ
- for him
- ἐν τῷ θεῷ
- in God
- αὐτοῦ
- his
- διάψαλμα
- a musical interlude or pause (a direction in the psalm)
4. Haggai 1:7 · verse
τάδε λέγει κύριος παντοκράτωρ θέσθε τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς ὑμῶν
Reading aids (8) for exercise 4
- τάδε
- thus; these things
- κύριος
- the Lord
- παντοκράτωρ
- Almighty
- θέσθε
- set, put (a command to several people)
- τὰς
- the (accusative feminine plural)
- ὑμῶν
- your (plural)
- εἰς
- toward, upon
- ὁδοὺς
- ways, paths
5. Ezekiel 28:6 · verse
διὰ τοῦτο τάδε λέγει κύριος ἐπειδὴ δέδωκας τὴν καρδίαν σου ὡς καρδίαν θεοῦ
Reading aids (9) for exercise 5
- διὰ τοῦτο
- for this reason
- τάδε
- thus; these things
- κύριος
- the Lord
- ἐπειδὴ
- since, because
- δέδωκας
- you have given (singular; perfect active form)
- τὴν
- the (accusative feminine singular)
- σου
- your (singular)
- ὡς
- as, like
- θεοῦ
- of God
6. Jeremiah 14:13 · excerpt
καὶ εἶπα ὦ κύριε ἰδοὺ οἱ προφῆται αὐτῶν προφητεύουσιν καὶ λέγουσιν οὐκ ὄψεσθε μάχαιραν οὐδὲ λιμὸς …
Reading aids (10) for exercise 6
- εἶπα
- I said
- ὦ κύριε
- O Lord
- ἰδοὺ
- look, behold
- οἱ
- the (masculine plural)
- αὐτῶν
- their
- προφητεύουσιν
- they prophesy
- ὄψεσθε
- you will see (plural; future middle form)
- μάχαιραν
- a sword
- οὐδὲ
- nor; and not
- λιμὸς
- famine
7. Jeremiah 23:5 · excerpt
ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται λέγει κύριος καὶ ἀναστήσω τῷ Δαυιδ ἀνατολὴν δικαίαν …
Reading aids (7) for exercise 7
- ἰδοὺ
- look, behold
- ἔρχονται
- they come; they are coming
- κύριος
- the Lord
- ἀναστήσω
- I will raise up
- τῷ Δαυιδ
- for David
- ἀνατολὴν
- a shoot, sprout
- δικαίαν
- righteous
8. Jeremiah 38:33 (English Jeremiah 31:33) · excerpt
… καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίας αὐτῶν γράψω αὐτούς καὶ ἔσομαι αὐτοῖς εἰς θεόν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔσονταί μοι εἰς λαόν
Reading aids (10) for exercise 8
- ἐπὶ
- on, upon
- αὐτῶν
- their
- αὐτούς
- them (the laws mentioned earlier)
- ἔσομαι
- I will be
- αὐτοῖς
- to/for them
- εἰς θεόν
- as God; for a God
- αὐτοὶ
- they
- ἔσονταί
- they will be
- μοι
- to/for me
- εἰς λαόν
- as a people; for a people