Concords

There are three concords in simple sentences:

1. A finite verb agrees with its subject in number and person (949).

2. A word in apposition with another word agrees with it in case (976).

3. An adjective agrees with its substantive in gender, number, and case (1020).

(For the concord of relative pronouns, see 2501.)

Apparent violation of the concords is to be explained either by

a. Construction according to sense, where the agreement is with the real gender or number (e.g. 949 a, 950-953, 958, 996, 997, 1013, 1044, 1050, 1055 a, 1058 b); or by

b. Attraction, when a word does not have its natural construction because of the influence of some other word or words in its clause (e.g. 1060 ff., 1239, 1978, 2465, 2502, 2522 ff.). This principle extends to moods and tenses (2183 ff.).

A finite verb agrees with its subject in number and person.

Thus, τοῦτο τὸ ψήφισμα ἐγένετο this bill was passed L. 13.56, ὃ δέδοικ᾽ ἐγὼ μὴ πάθηθ᾽ ῡ̔μεῖς which I fear lest you may suffer D. 9.65, ἢν δ᾽ ἀποψηφίσωνται οἱ ἄλλοι, ἄπιμεν ἅπαντες τοὔμπαλιν but if the rest vote against (following), we shall all return back again X. A. 1.4.15, τὼ ξένω τώδε φίλω ἐστὸν ἐμώ these two strangers are friends of mine P. G. 487a.

a. The verbal predicate, when a copulative verb (917), may be attracted to the number of a predicate noun, which often stands between subject and verb: τὸ χωρίον τοῦτο, ὅπερ πρότερον Ἐννέα ὁδοὶ ἐκαλοῦντο this place which was formerly called Nine Ways T. 4.102, ἅπᾱν τὸ μέσον τῶν τειχῶν ἦσαν στάδιοι τρεῖς the entire space between the walls was three stades X. A. 1.4.4. So with the participles of such copulative verbs: τὴν ἡδονὴν διώκετε ὡς ἀγαθὸν ὄν (for οὖσαν) you chase after pleasure as if it were a good P. Pr. 354c.

Concord.—An adjective agrees with its substantive in gender, number, and case. This holds true also of the article, adjective pronouns, and participles: thus, A. Attributive: ὁ δίκαιος ἀνήρ the just man, τοῦ δικαίου ἀνδρός, τὼ δικαίω ἄνδρε, οἱ δίκαιοι ἄνδρες, etc., οὗτος ὁ ἀνήρ this man, τούτου τοῦ ἀνδρός, etc., ἡ φιλοῦσα θυγάτηρ the loving daughter. B. Predicate: καλὸς ὁ ἀγών the prize is glorious, ταῦτ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀληθῆ these things are true, αἱ ἄρισται δοκοῦσαι εἶναι φύσεις the natures which seem to be best X. M. 4.1.3.

On the agreement of demonstrative pronouns used adjectively with a predicate substantive, see 1239. For relative pronouns, see 2501.