Topic · from the English index · as printed
Genitive case
See also Agent
general statement of uses
§1289GENITIVEThe genitive most commonly limits the meaning of substantives, adjectives, and adverbs, less commonly that of verbs. Since the genitive has absorbed the ablative it includes (1) th…
in apposition with possessive pronoun or adjective
§977APPOSITIONAn appositive to a possessive pronoun stands in the genitive, in agreement with the personal pronoun implied in the possessive: τὸν ἐμὸν ( = ἐμοῦ) τοῦ ταλαιπώρου βίον the life of m…
§978APPOSITIONAn appositive in the genitive may follow an adjective equivalent to a genitive: Ἀθηναῖος ( = Ἀθηνῶν) ὤν, πόλεως τῆς μεγίστης being an Athenian, a citizen of the greatest city P. A.…
after comparison
§§1069–1078COMPARATIVEThe comparative degree may be followed by the genitive (1431) or by ἤ than: σοφώτερος ἐμοῦ or σοφώτερος ἢ ἐγώ wiser than I. The genitive may precede or follow the comparative. With…
attributive, position
§1161Attributive Position of the ArticleThe genitive of a substantive limiting the meaning of another substantive may take any one of four positions:— a. τὸ τοῦ πατρὸς βιβλίον the father's book (very common). Thus, ἡ <*>…
of pronouns, with article, position
§1163Attributive Position of the ArticleThe attributive position is employed with the possessive pronouns and the possessive genitives of the reflexive and demonstrative pronouns (1184), αὐτο<*> meaning same (1173), and …
§1171Predicate Position of AdjectivesThe predicate position is employed with the demonstratives οὗτος, ὅδε, ἐκεῖνος, and ἄμφω, ἀμφότερος, ἑκάτερος, and ἕκαστος; with the possessive genitives of personal and relative p…
§1184POSITION OF THE GENITIVE OF PRONOUNS AND THE ARTICLEIn the attributive position (1154) stands the genitive of the demonstrative, reflexive, and reciprocal pronouns. τὸ τούτου βιβλίον or τὸ βιβλίον τὸ τούτου his book, τὸ ἐμαυτοῦ βιβλ…
§1185POSITION OF THE GENITIVE OF PRONOUNS AND THE ARTICLEIn the predicate position stands a. The genitive of the personal pronouns (whether partitive or not): τὸ βιβλίον μου (σου, αὐτοῦ, etc.), or μου σου, αὐτοῦ. etc.) τὸ βιβλίον when ot…
with substantives (adnominal genitive)
§§1290–1296THE GENITIVE PROPER WITH NOUNS: (ADNOMINAL GENITIVE)A substantive in the genitive limits the meaning of a substantive on which it depends.
of possession or belonging
§§1297–1305GENITIVE OF POSSESSION OR BELONGINGThe genitive denotes ownership, possession, or belonging: ἡ οἰκίᾱ ἡ Σίμωνος the house of Simon L. 3.32, ὁ Κῡ́ρου στόλος the expedition of Cyrus X. A. 1.2.5. Cp. the dative of posse…
§1390FREE USES OF THE GENITIVEA form of the genitive of possession appears in poetry with verbal adjectives and passive participles to denote the personal origin of an action (cp. 1298): κείνης διδακτά taught o…
§1411 bGENITIVE OF SOURCEWith verbs of hearing from and the like the genitive is probably ablatival rather than partitive (1364): ἐμοῦ ἀκούσεσθε πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν from me you shall hear the whole truth P.…
genitive of possession and dative of possessor
§1480DATIVE OF INTERESTThe dative of the possessor denotes that something is at the disposal of a person or has fallen to his share temporarily. The genitive of possession lays stress on the person who o…
of origin
§1298GENITIVE OF POSSESSION OR BELONGINGHere may be classed the genitive of origin: οἱ Σόλωνος νόμοι the laws of Solon D. 20.103, ἡ ἐπιστολὴ τοῦ Φιλίππου the letter of Philip 18. 37, κῡ́ματα παντοίων ἀνέμων waves caused …
of divided whole (partitive)
§§1306–1319GENITIVE OF THE DIVIDED WHOLE (PARTITIVE GENITIVE)The genitive may denote a whole, a part of which is denoted by the noun it limits. The genitive of the divided whole may be used with any word that expresses or implies a part.
§928 bTHE SUBJECTThe subject nominative may be replaced a. By a prepositional phrase in the accusative: ἐνθῡμεῖσθε καθ᾽ ἑκάστους τε καὶ ξύμπαντες consider individually and all together T. 7.64. b. …
§984APPOSITIONIn partitive apposition emphasis is laid on the whole, which is stated at once as the subject or object of the sentence. In the genitive of the divided whole (1306) emphasis is lai…
§1085 aSUPERLATIVEThe superlative expresses either the highest degree of a quality (the relative superlative: ὁ σοφώτατος ἀνήρ the wisest man) or a very high degree of a quality (the absolute superl…
§1139THE ARTICLE WITH PROPER NAMESContinents: ἡ Εὐρώπη Europe, ἡ Ἀσίᾱ Asia. Other names of countries, except those originally adjectives (as ἡ Ἀττική Attica), omit the article (Λιβύη Libya). γῆ and χώρᾱ may be adde…
§1161 dAttributive Position of the ArticleThe genitive of a substantive limiting the meaning of another substantive may take any one of four positions:— a. τὸ τοῦ πατρὸς βιβλίον the father's book (very common). Thus, ἡ <*>…
§1171Predicate Position of AdjectivesThe predicate position is employed with the demonstratives οὗτος, ὅδε, ἐκεῖνος, and ἄμφω, ἀμφότερος, ἑκάτερος, and ἕκαστος; with the possessive genitives of personal and relative p…
chorographic
§1311GENITIVE OF THE DIVIDED WHOLE (PARTITIVE GENITIVE)Chorographic Genitive.—τῆς Ἀττικῆς ἐς Οἰνόην to Oenoë in Attica T. 2.18 (or ἐς Οἰνόην τῆς Ἀττικῆς, not ἐς τῆς Ἀττικῆς Οἰνόην), τῆς Ἰταλίᾱς Αοκροί the Locrians in Italy 3. 86. The a…
as subject of verb
§1318GENITIVE OF THE DIVIDED WHOLE (PARTITIVE GENITIVE)The genitive of the divided whole may do duty as the subject of a finite verb (928 b) or of the infinitive: (ἔφασαν) ἐπιμειγνύναι σφῶν πρὸς ἐκείνους they said that some of their nu…
of quality
§1320GENITIVE OF QUALITYThe genitive to denote quality occurs chiefly as a predicate. ἐὼν τρόπου ἡσυχίου being of a peaceful disposition Hdt. 1.107, οἱ δέ τινες τῆς αὐτῆς γνώμης ὀλίγοι κατέφυγον but some …
§1321GENITIVE OF QUALITYThe use of the genitive to express quality, corresponding to the Latin genitive, occurs in the non-predicate position, only when age or size is exactly expressed by the addition of…
of explanation (apposition genitive)
§1322GENITIVE OF EXPLANATION (APPOSITIVE GENITIVE)The genitive of an explicit word may explain the meaning of a more general word. Ῑ̓λίου πόλις E 642, as urbs Romae, ἄελλαι παντοίων ἀνέμων blasts formed of winds of every sort ε 29…
of material or contents
§1323GENITIVE OF MATERIAL OR CONTENTSThe genitive expresses material or contents. ἕρκος ὀδόντων the fence (consisting) of the teeth Δ 350, κρήνη ἡδέος ὕδατος a spring of sweet water X. A. 6.4.4, σωροὶ σῑ́του, ξύλων, λ…
§1324GENITIVE OF MATERIAL OR CONTENTSPredicate Use: στεφάνους ῥόδων ὄντας, ἀλλ᾽ οὐ χρῡσίου crowns that were of roses, not of gold D. 22.70, ἐστρωμένη ἐστὶ ὁδὸς λίθου a road was paved with stone Hdt. 2.138, and often w…
of measure
§§1325–1327GENITIVE OF MEASUREThe genitive denotes measure of space, time, or degree. ὀκτὼ σταδίων τεῖχος a wall eight stades long T. 7.2, πέντε ἡμερῶν σῑτία provisions for five days 7. 43 (cp. fossa pedum quin…
subjective and objective
§§1328–1335SUBJECTIVE AND OBJECTIVE GENITIVEWith a verbal noun the genitive may denote the subject or object of the action expressed in the noun. a. Many of these genitives derive their construction from that of the kindred …
of value
§1336GENITIVE OF VALUEThe genitive expresses value. ἱερὰ τριῶν ταλάντων offerings worth three talents L. 30.20, χῑλίων δραχμῶν δίκην φεύγω I am defendant in an action involving a thousand drachmas D. 55…
§1337GENITIVE OF VALUEPredicate Use: τοὺς αἰχμαλώτους τοσούτων χρημάτων λῡ́εσθαι to ransom the captives at so high a price D. 19.222, τριῶν δραχμῶν πονηρὸς ὤν a threepenny rogue 19. 200.
two, with one noun
§1338TWO GENITIVES WITH ONE NOUNTwo genitives expressing different relations may be used with one noun. οἱ ἄνθρωποι διὰ τὸ αὑτῶν δέος τοῦ θανάτου καταψεύδονται by reason of their fear of death men tell lies P. Ph…
with verbs, general statement of use
§1339GENITIVE WITH VERBSThe genitive may serve as the immediate complement of a verb, or it may appear, as a secondary definition, along with an accusative which is the immediate object of the verb (920, …
§1340GENITIVE WITH VERBSThe subject of an active verb governing the genitive may become the subject of the passive construction: Νῑκήρατος ἐρῶν τῆς γυναικὸς ἀντερᾶται Niceratus, who is in love with his wi…
of active construction made nominative of passive
§1340GENITIVE WITH VERBSThe subject of an active verb governing the genitive may become the subject of the passive construction: Νῑκήρατος ἐρῶν τῆς γυναικὸς ἀντερᾶται Niceratus, who is in love with his wi…
§1556 aACCUSATIVEThe direct object of an active transitive verb becomes the subject of the passive: ὁ παῖς ὑπὸ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς τύπτεται the boy is struck by the man. a. The object of a verb governing th…
§1745PASSIVE VOICEActive or middle verbs governing the genitive or dative may form (unlike the Latin use) a personal passive, the genitive or dative (especially if either denotes a person) becoming …
§1748PASSIVE VOICEAn active verb followed by an accusative of the direct object (a thing) and an oblique case of a person, retains, when transferred to the passive, the accusative of the direct obje…
partitive, with verbs
§§1341–1371THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEA verb may be followed by the partitive genitive if the action affects the object only in part. If the entire object is affected, the verb in question takes the accusative. Ἀδρήστο…
with verbs of sharing
§1343THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs of sharing. πάντες μετεῖχον τῆς ἑορτῆς all took part in the festival X. A. 5.3.9, μετεδίδοσαν ἀλλήλοις ὧν (= τούτων ἃ) εἶχον ἕκαστοι they shared wit…
with verbs signifying to touch, make trial of
§1345THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs signifying to touch, take hold of, make trial of. (ἡ νόσος) ἥψατο τῶν ἀνθρώπων the plague laid hold of the men T. 2.48, τῆς γνώμης τῆς αὐτῆς ἔχομαι …
§1346THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive of the part, with the accusative of the person (the whole) who has been touched, is chiefly poetical: τὸν δὲ πεσόντα ποδῶν ἔλαβε but him as he fell, he seized by his f…
§1347THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEVerbs of beseeching take the genitive by analogy to verbs of touching: ἐμὲ λισσέσκετο γούνων she besought me by (clasping) my knees I 451 (cp. γενείου ἁψάμενος λίσσεσθαι beseech by…
§1348THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs of beginning. a. Partitive: ἔφη Κῦρον ἄρχειν τοῦ λόγου ὧδε he said that Cyrus began the discussion as follows X. A. 1.6.5, τοῦ λόγου ἤρχετο ὧδε he b…
§1349THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs signifying to aim at, strive after, desire (genitive of the end desired). ἀνθρώπων στοχάζεσθαι to aim at men X. C. 1.6.29, ἐφῑέμενοι τῶν κερδῶν desi…
§1350THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs signifying to reach, obtain (genitive of the end attained). τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐφικέσθαι to attain to virtue I. 1.5, οἱ ἀκοντισταὶ βραχύτερα ἠκόντιζον ἢ ὡς …
§1351THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive of the thing obtained may be joined with an ablatival genitive (1410) of the person: οὗ δὲ δὴ πάντων οἰόμεθα τεύξεσθαι ἐπαίνου in a case where we expect to win praise …
§1352THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEIt is uncertain whether verbs signifying to miss take a partitive or an ablatival genitive: οὐδεὶς ἡμάρτανεν ἀνδρός no one missed his man X. A. 3.4.15, σφαλέντες τῆς δόξης disappoi…
§1353THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEVerbs of approaching and meeting take the genitive according to 1343 or 1349. These verbs are poetical. Thus, ἀντιόων ταύρων for the purpose of obtaining (his share of) bulls α 25,…
§1354THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs of smelling. ὄζω μύρου I smell of perfume Ar. Eccl. 524. So πνεῖν μύρου to breathe (smell of) perfume S. fr. 140.
§1355THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs signifying to enjoy, taste, eat, drink. ἀπολαύομεν πάντων τῶν ἀγαθῶν we enjoy all the good things X. M. 4.3.11, εὐωχοῦ τοῦ λόγου enjoy the discourse…
§§1356–1360THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs signifying to remember, remind, forget, care for , and neglect. τῶν ἀπόντων φίλων μέμνησο remember your absent friends I. 1.26, βούλομαι δ᾽ ῡ̔μᾶς ἀν…
§§1361–1368THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs signifying to hear and perceive: ἀκούειν, κλύειν (poet.) hear, ἀκροᾶσθαι listen to, αἰσθάνεσθαι perceive, πυνθάνεσθαι hear, learn of, συνῑέναι under…
§1369THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs signifying to fill, to be full of. The thing filled is put in the accusative. οὐκ ἐμπλήσετε τὴν θάλατταν τριήρων ; will you not cover the sea with y…
of actual source
§1364THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEἀκούειν, ἀκροᾶσθαι, πυνθἁνεσθαι, meaning to hear from, learn from, take the genitive of the actual source (1411).
with verbs of ruling, commanding, leading
§1370THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs signifying to rule, command, lead. θεῖον τὸ ἐθελόντων ἄρχειν it is divine to rule over willing subjects X. O. 21.12, τῆς θαλάττης ἐκράτει he was mas…
§1371THE PARTITIVE GENITIVESeveral verbs of ruling take the accusative when they mean to conquer, overcome (so κρατεῖν), or when they express the domain over which the rule extends; as τὴν Πελοπόννησον πειρᾶ…
of price and value
§§1372–1374GENITIVE OF PRICE AND VALUEThe genitive is used with verbs signifying to buy, sell, cost, value, exchange. The price for which one gives or does anything stands in the genitive. ἀργυρίου πρίασθαι ἢ ἀποδόσθαι…
§1379GENITIVE OF CRIME AND ACCOUNTABILITYWith verbs of judicial action the genitive of the penalty may be regarded as a genitive of value: θανάτου κρῑ́νουσι they judge in matters of life and death X. C. 1.2.14. So ὑπάγειν…
of crime and accountability
§§1375–1379GENITIVE OF CRIME AND ACCOUNTABILITYWith verbs of judicial action the genitive denotes the crime, the accusative denotes the person accused. αἰτιᾶσθαι ἀλλήλους τοῦ γεγενημένου to accuse one another of what had happen…
§1385GENITIVE WITH COMPOUND VERBSThe verbs of accusing and condemning (cp. 1375) containing κατά in composition (καταγιγνώσκειν decide against, καταδικάζειν adjudge against, καταψηφίζεσθαι vote against, κατακρῑ́νε…
of connection
§1380GENITIVE OF CONNECTIONThe genitive may express a more or less close connection or relation, where περί is sometimes added. With verbs of saying or thinking: τί δὲ ἵππων οἴει; but what do you think of ho…
§1381GENITIVE OF CONNECTIONThe genitive is often used loosely, especially at the beginning of a construction, to state the subject of a remark: ἵππος ἢν κακουργῇ, τὸν ἱππέᾱ κακίζομεν· τῆς δὲ γυναικός, εἰ κακ…
with compound verbs
§§1382–1387GENITIVE WITH COMPOUND VERBSThe genitive depends on the meaning of a compound verb as a whole (1) if the simple verb takes the genitive without a preposition, as ὑπείκειν withdraw, παραλῡ́ειν release, παραχωρ…
of person, dependent on accusative
§1388FREE USES OF THE GENITIVEMany verbs ordinarily construed with the accusative are also followed by a genitive of a person, apparently dependent on the verb but in reality governed by an accusative, generall…
origin of genitive dependent on verb
§1389FREE USES OF THE GENITIVEFrom such constructions arose the use of the genitive in actual dependence on the verb without an accusative word or clause: ἄγασαι αὐτοῦ you admire him X. M. 2.6.33, θαυμάζω τῶν ὑ…
ablatival
§§1391–1411THE ABLATIVAL GENITIVE WITH VERBSThe same verb may govern both a true genitive and an ablatival genitive. So ἄρχεσθαι to begin (1348 a) and to start from, ἔχεσθαι to hold to (1345) and to keep oneself from. In man…
§1348 bTHE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive is used with verbs of beginning. a. Partitive: ἔφη Κῦρον ἄρχειν τοῦ λόγου ὧδε he said that Cyrus began the discussion as follows X. A. 1.6.5, τοῦ λόγου ἤρχετο ὧδε he b…
§1351THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEThe genitive of the thing obtained may be joined with an ablatival genitive (1410) of the person: οὗ δὲ δὴ πάντων οἰόμεθα τεύξεσθαι ἐπαίνου in a case where we expect to win praise …
§1352THE PARTITIVE GENITIVEIt is uncertain whether verbs signifying to miss take a partitive or an ablatival genitive: οὐδεὶς ἡμάρτανεν ἀνδρός no one missed his man X. A. 3.4.15, σφαλέντες τῆς δόξης disappoi…
of separation
§§1392–1400GENITIVE OF SEPARATIONWith verbs signifying to cease, release, remove, restrain, give up, fail, be distant from, etc., the genitive denotes separation. λήγειν τῶν πόνων to cease from toil I. 1.14, ἐπιστ…
of distinction and of comparison
§§1401–1404GENITIVE OF DISTINCTION AND OF COMPARISONThe genitive is used with verbs of differing. ἄρχων ἀγαθὸς οὐδὲν διαφέρει πατρὸς ἀγαθοῦ a good ruler differs in no respect from a good father X. C. 8.1.1.
of cause
§§1405–1409GENITIVE OF CAUSEWith verbs of emotion the genitive denotes the cause. Such verbs are to wonder at, admire, envy, praise, blame. hate, pity, grieve for, be angry at, take vengeance on, and the like…
§1373 aGENITIVE OF PRICE AND VALUETo value highly and lightly is περὶ πολλοῦ (πλείονος, πλείστου) and περὶ ὀλίγου (ἐλᾱ́ττονος, ἐλαχίστου) τῑμᾶσθαι or ποιεῖσθαι: τὰ πλείστου ἄξια περὶ ἐλαχίστου ποιεῖται, τὰ δὲ φαυλό…
§2684EXCLAMATORY SENTENCESDirect exclamations without a verb may be expressed by the vocative or nominative (1288) or by the genitive of cause (1407).
of purpose
§1408GENITIVE OF CAUSEAllied to the genitive of cause is the genitive of purpose in τοῦ with the infinitive (esp. with μή, 2032 e), and in expressions where ἕνεκα is usually employed, as ἡ πᾶσ᾽ ἀπάτη συ…
with verbs of disputing
§1409GENITIVE OF CAUSEClosely connected with the genitive of cause is the genitive with verbs of disputing: οὐ βασιλεῖ ἀντιποιούμεθα τῆς ἀρχῆς we have no dispute with the king about his empire X. A. 2.1…
of source
§1410GENITIVE OF SOURCEThe genitive may denote the source. πίθων ἠφύσσετο οἶνος wine was broached from the casks ψ 305, Δᾱρείου καὶ Παρυσάτιδος γίγνονται παῖδες δύο of Darius and Parysatis are born two s…
§1411GENITIVE OF SOURCEWith verbs of hearing from and the like the genitive is probably ablatival rather than partitive (1364): ἐμοῦ ἀκούσεσθε πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν from me you shall hear the whole truth P.…
with adjectives
§§1412–1436GENITIVE WITH ADJECTIVESThe genitive is used with many adjectives corresponding in derivation or meaning to verbs taking the genitive.
§1529WITH ADJECTIVES, ETC.Many adjectives and adverbs, and some substantives, take the instrumental dative by the same construction as the corresponding verbs. σύμμαχος αὐτοῖς their ally D. 9.58, χώρᾱ ὅμορο…
of relation
§1428GENITIVE WITH ADJECTIVESCompounds of alpha privative.—In addition to the adjectives with alpha privative which take the genitive by reason of the notion expressed in the verb, or by analogy, there are man…
with adverbs
§§1437–1443GENITIVE WITH ADVERBSThe genitive is used with adverbs derived from adjectives which take the genitive, and with adverbs akin to verbs followed by the genitive. τὰ τούτου ἑξῆς what comes after this P. …
of time and place
§§1444–1449GENITIVE OF TIME AND PLACETime.—The genitive denotes the time within which, or at a certain point of which, an action takes place. As contrasted with the accusative of time (1582), the genitive denotes a po…
§1543LOCATIVE DATIVEThe dative and genitive of time are sometimes employed with only a slight difference (1447 a).
with preposition to express agent
§§1491–1494DATIVE OF INTERESTThe person by whom (not for whom) an action is explicitly said to be done, is put in the genitive with ὑπό (1698. 1. b).
§1678ORDINARY USES OF THE PREPOSITIONSThe agent is expressed by different prepositions with the genitive: ὑπό of persons and things personified (1698. 1. N. 1): the normal usage in Attic prose. παρά: here the agent is …
§1755PASSIVE VOICEThe agent of the passive is regularly expressed by ὑπό and the genitive; sometimes by ἀπό, διά, ἐκ, παρά, πρός with the genitive, or by ὑπό with the dative (in poetry). See 1678.
general force after prepositions
§1658PREPOSITIONSIn general, when depending on prepositions expressing relations of place, the accusative denotes the place (or person) toward which or the place over which, along which motion take…
with preposition to express instrument
§1756PASSIVE VOICEThe instrument of an action, when regarded as the agent, is personified, and may be expressed by ὑπό with the genitive: α<*>λίσκεται ὑπὸ τριήρους he is captured by a trireme D. 53.…
of articular infinitive
§2032THE INFINITIVE WITH THE ARTICLE (ARTICULAR INFINITIVE)GENITIVE OF THE ARTICULAR INFINITIVE a. The genitive of the articular infinitive is used to limit the meaning of substantives, adjectives, and verbs. b. Adnominal (1290): τοῦ πιεῖν…
absolute
§2032 fTHE INFINITIVE WITH THE ARTICLE (ARTICULAR INFINITIVE)GENITIVE OF THE ARTICULAR INFINITIVE a. The genitive of the articular infinitive is used to limit the meaning of substantives, adjectives, and verbs. b. Adnominal (1290): τοῦ πιεῖν…
§2058THE CIRCUMSTANTIAL PARTICIPLEA. Genitive Absolute.—A participle agreeing in the genitive with its own subject, which is not identical with the subject of the leading verb, is said to stand in the genitive abso…
§§2070–2075GENITIVE ABSOLUTE. ACCUSATIVE ABSOLUTEGenitive Absolute.—A circumstantial participle agreeing with a genitive noun or pronoun which is not in the main construction of the sentence, stands in the genitive absolute. Like…