User:Erutuon/Ancient Greek interlinear glossing

Issues:

  • Verb stems carry some of the inflectional information that is carried by the ending: λέγ- in λέγει carries the information "present", while -ει carries the information "third-person singular present indicative active" (or arguably "present or future"); ἔβαλλ- in ἔβαλλε carries the information "aorist indicative active", while carries the information "third-person singular aorist indicative active" (or arguably "aorist or imperfect or perfect").
  • Verbs have information for as many as five inflectional categories. Perhaps it is easiest to treat indicative and active as the defaults for the categories of mood and voice, and omit them. Then, εἰμί is "first-person present" and not "first-person present indicative" or "first-person present indicative active".
  • The augment can perhaps be analyzed as a separate morpheme when it is ἐ-, as in ἔλεγον, in which case it probably carries the information "past", or it can be considered a part of the tense stem, in which case it carries the meaning "indicative". When the augment is quantitative, as in ἦγον, it can't be analyzed as a separate morpheme. When there is a prepositional prefix, I am not sure how to format the glossing abbreviations: συνέβην.
  • What was said about the augment is also true of reduplication.

Cases

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From Ancient Greek nouns:

Nominative

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The Ancient Greek nominative, like the Proto-Indo-European nominative, is used for the subject and for things describing the subject (predicate nouns or adjectives):

Σωκράτ-ης

Sōkrát-ēs

Socrates-NOM.SG

γὰρ

gàr

for

σοφ-ὸς

soph-òs

wise-NOM.SG

ἦν

ên

be.IMPERF.IND.3.SG

καὶ

kaì

and

δίκαι-ος[1]

díkai-os.

wise-NOM.SG.

Σωκράτ-ης γὰρ σοφ-ὸς ἦν καὶ δίκαι-ος[1]

Sōkrát-ēs gàr soph-òs ên kaì díkai-os.

Socrates-NOM.SG for wise-NOM.SG be.IMPERF.IND.3.SG and wise-NOM.SG.

For Socrates was wise and just.

Vocative

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The vocative is used for addressing people or things. It is frequently the same as the nominative in the singular and always the same in the plural.

ἀληθ-ῆ

alēth-ê

true-ACC.SG

λέγ-εις,

lég-eis,

say.PRES-2.SG.PRES.IND.ACT,

ô

PTCL.VOC

Σώκρατ-ες[2]

Sṓkrat-es

Socrates-VOC.SG

ἀληθ-ῆ λέγ-εις, ὦ Σώκρατ-ες[2]

alēth-ê lég-eis, ô Sṓkrat-es

true-ACC.SG say.PRES-2.SG.PRES.IND.ACT, PTCL.VOC Socrates-VOC.SG

What you say is true, Socrates.

Accusative

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The accusative is used for the object of a verb, and also after prepositions. After prepositions it is often used for the destination of motion:

πέμπ-ουσιν

pémp-ousin

send.PRES-3.PL.PRES.IND.ACT

ἐς

es

into

Κρήτ-ην

Krḗt-ēn

Crete-ACC.SG

ἀγγέλ-ους[3]

angél-ous

messengers-ACC.PL

πέμπ-ουσιν ἐς Κρήτ-ην ἀγγέλ-ους[3]

pémp-ousin es Krḗt-ēn angél-ous

send.PRES-3.PL.PRES.IND.ACT into Crete-ACC.SG messengers-ACC.PL

They send messengers to Crete.

Genitive

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The Ancient Greek genitive can often be translated with the preposition "of" or the English possessive case:

the.F.NOM.SG

τ-οῦ

t-oû

the-M.GEN.SG

Καίσαρ-ος

Kaísar-os

Caesar-GEN.SG

γυνή[4]

gunḗ

woman.NOM.SG

τ-οῦ Καίσαρ-ος γυνή[4]

t-oû Kaísar-os gunḗ

the.F.NOM.SG the-M.GEN.SG Caesar-GEN.SG woman.NOM.SG

The wife of Caesar

It is also used after prepositions, especially those which mean "from":

ἀπῆλθ-εν

apêlth-en

go away.AOR.IND-3.SG.AOR.IND.ACT

ἐκ

ek

out of

τ-ῆς

t-ês

the-F.GEN.SG

ἀγορ-ᾶς.[5]

agor-âs.

marketplace-GEN.SG

ἀπῆλθ-εν ἐκ τ-ῆς ἀγορ-ᾶς.[5]

apêlth-en ek t-ês agor-âs.

{go away}.AOR.IND-3.SG.AOR.IND.ACT {out of} the-F.GEN.SG marketplace-GEN.SG

He went away from the marketplace.

Dative

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The Ancient Greek dative corresponds to the Proto-Indo-European dative, instrumental, or locative. When it corresponds to the dative, it expresses the person or thing that is indirectly affected by an action, and can often be translated with the prepositions "to" or "for":

λέγ-ει

lég-ei

say.PRES-3.SG.PRES.IND.ACT

τ-ὴν

t-ḕn

the-F.ACC.SG

μαντεί-αν

manteí-an

oracle-ACC.SG

τ-ῷ

t-ôi

the-M.DAT.SG

Σωκράτ-ει.[6]

Sōkrát-ei.

Socrates-DAT.SG.

λέγ-ει τ-ὴν μαντεί-αν τ-ῷ Σωκράτ-ει.[6]

lég-ei t-ḕn manteí-an t-ôi Sōkrát-ei.

say.PRES-3.SG.PRES.IND.ACT the-F.ACC.SG oracle-ACC.SG the-M.DAT.SG Socrates-DAT.SG.

He tells the oracle to Socrates.

When the dative corresponds to the Proto-Indo-European instrumental, it expresses the thing with which something is done, and can often be translated by the preposition "with":

ἔβαλλ-έ

éball-é

throw.AOR.IND-3.SG.AOR.IND.ACT

με

me

PN.1.ACC.SG

λίθ-οις[7]

líth-ois

stone-DAT.PL

ἔβαλλ-έ με λίθ-οις[7]

éball-é me líth-ois

throw.AOR.IND-3.SG.AOR.IND.ACT PN.1.ACC.SG stone-DAT.PL

He was hitting me with stones.

When the dative corresponds to the Proto-Indo-European locative case (this is often the case when it is used with prepositions), it expresses location (sometimes figuratively) or time, and can often be translated by "in", "at", or "on":

τρίτ-ῳ

trít-ōi

third-DAT.SG

ἔτ-ει

ét-ei

year-DAT.SG

ὡμολόγησ-αν

hōmológēs-an

agree.AOR.IND-3.PL.AOR.IND.ACT

Ἀθηναί-οις.[8]

Athēnaí-ois.

Athenian-DAT.PL.

τρίτ-ῳ ἔτ-ει ὡμολόγησ-αν Ἀθηναί-οις.[8]

trít-ōi ét-ei hōmológēs-an Athēnaí-ois.

third-DAT.SG year-DAT.SG agree.AOR.IND-3.PL.AOR.IND.ACT Athenian-DAT.PL.

In the third year they came to an agreement with the Athenians.

The dative is also frequently used after prepositions, such as ἐν (en) "in":

ἐν

en

in

τ-ῇ

t-êi

the-F.DAT.SG

μάχ-ῃ

mákh-ēi

battle-DAT.SG

ἀπέθαν-εν.[9]

apéthan-en.

die.AOR.IND-3.SG.AOR.ACT.IND.

ἐν τ-ῇ μάχ-ῃ ἀπέθαν-εν.[9]

en t-êi mákh-ēi apéthan-en.

in the-F.DAT.SG battle-DAT.SG die.AOR.IND-3.SG.AOR.ACT.IND.

He died in the battle.

Verb stuff

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From Ancient Greek verbs:

Present tense

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πολλ-ά

poll-á

many-N.ACC.PL

γε

ge

DM

ἔτ-η

ét-ē

year-ACC.PL

ἤδη

ḗdē

already

εἰμὶ

eimì

be.1.SG.PRES.IND

ἐν

en

in

τ-ῇ

t-êi

the-F.DAT.SG

τέχν-ῃ.[10]

tékhn-ēi.

business-DAT.SG.

πολλ-ά γε ἔτ-η ἤδη εἰμὶ ἐν τ-ῇ τέχν-ῃ.[10]

poll-á ge ét-ē ḗdē eimì en t-êi tékhn-ēi.

many-N.ACC.PL DM year-ACC.PL already be.1.SG.PRES.IND in the-F.DAT.SG business-DAT.SG.

I have been [lit. I am] in the business for many years now.

τὸ

the.N.NOM.SG

πλοῖ-ον

ploî-on

boat-NOM.SG

ἧκ-εν

hêk-en

arrive.IMPERF.IND-3.SG.IMPERF.IND.ACT

ἐν

en

in

hôi

REL.M.DAT.SG

ἐπῑ́ν-ομεν.[11]

epī́n-omen.

drink.IMPERF.IND-1.PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT.

τὸ πλοῖ-ον ἧκ-εν ἐν ᾧ ἐπῑ́ν-ομεν.[11]

tò ploî-on hêk-en en hôi epī́n-omen.

the.N.NOM.SG boat-NOM.SG arrive.IMPERF.IND-3.SG.IMPERF.IND.ACT in REL.M.DAT.SG drink.IMPERF.IND-1.PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT.

The boat arrived in which we had been drinking.

ὄμνῡ-μι

ómnū-mi

swear.PRES-1.SG.PRES.IND.ACT

πάντ-ας

pánt-as

all-M.ACC.PL

θε-ούς.[12]

the-oús.

god-ACC.PL.

ὄμνῡ-μι πάντ-ας θε-ούς.[12]

ómnū-mi pánt-as the-oús.

swear.PRES-1.SG.PRES.IND.ACT all-M.ACC.PL god-ACC.PL.

I swear by all the gods!

τ-ὸν

t-òn

the-M.ACC.SG

ἄνδρ-α

ándr-a

man-ACC.SG

ὁρ-ῶ.[13]

hor-ô.

see.PRES-1.SG.PRES.ACT.IND.

τ-ὸν ἄνδρ-α ὁρ-ῶ.[13]

t-òn ándr-a hor-ô.

the-M.ACC.SG man-ACC.SG see.PRES-1.SG.PRES.ACT.IND.

I see the man!

ᾱ̓εὶ

āeì

always

ταὐτ-ὰ

taut-à

the same.N.ACC.PL

λέγ-εις,

lég-eis,

say.PRES-2.SG.PRES.ACT.IND,

ô

PTCL.VOC

Σώκρατ-ες.[14]

Sṓkrat-es.

Socrates-VOC.SG.

ᾱ̓εὶ ταὐτ-ὰ λέγ-εις, ὦ Σώκρατ-ες.[14]

āeì taut-à lég-eis, ô Sṓkrat-es.

always {the same.N.ACC.PL} say.PRES-2.SG.PRES.ACT.IND, PTCL.VOC Socrates-VOC.SG.

You are always saying the same things, Socrates!

“ὦ

“ô

"PTCL.VOC

Σώκρατ-ες,”

Sṓkrat-es,”

Socrates-VOC.SG,"

ἔφ-η,

éph-ē,

say.IMPERF-3.SG.IMPERF.IND,

“ἐγρήγορ-ας

“egrḗgor-as

"wake.PERF.ACT-1.SG.PERF.IND.ACT

or

καθεύδ-εις;”[15]

katheúd-eis?”

sleep.PRES-2.SG.PRES.IND.ACT?"

“ὦ Σώκρατ-ες,” ἔφ-η, “ἐγρήγορ-ας ἢ καθεύδ-εις;”[15]

“ô Sṓkrat-es,” éph-ē, “egrḗgor-as ḕ katheúd-eis?”

"PTCL.VOC Socrates-VOC.SG," say.IMPERF-3.SG.IMPERF.IND, "wake.PERF.ACT-1.SG.PERF.IND.ACT or sleep.PRES-2.SG.PRES.IND.ACT?"

"O Socrates", he said, "have you woken up, or are you sleeping?"

Imperfect tense

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ho

the.M.NOM.SG

λοχαγ-ὸς

lokhag-òs

captain-NOM.SG

ᾔδ-ει

ḗid-ei

know.PLUP.IND-3.SG.PLUP.IND.ACT

ὅπου

hópou

where

ἔκει-το

ékei-to

lie.IMPERF.IND-3.SG.IMPERF.IND.MID

the.F.NOM.SG

ἐπιστολ-ή.[16]

epistol-ḗ.

letter-NOM.SG.

ὁ λοχαγ-ὸς ᾔδ-ει ὅπου ἔκει-το ἡ ἐπιστολ-ή.[16]

ho lokhag-òs ḗid-ei hópou ékei-to hē epistol-ḗ.

the.M.NOM.SG captain-NOM.SG know.PLUP.IND-3.SG.PLUP.IND.ACT where lie.IMPERF.IND-3.SG.IMPERF.IND.MID the.F.NOM.SG letter-NOM.SG.

The captain knew where the letter was lying.

ἐστρατοπεδεύ-οντο

estratopedeú-onto

camp.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT

ἑκάστοτε

hekástote

at each time

ἀπέχ-οντ-ες

apékh-ont-es

keep away.PRES-PTCP.PRES-M.NOM.PL

ἀλλήλ-ων

allḗl-ōn

each other-GEN.PL

παρασάγγ-ην

parasáng-ēn

parasang-ACC.SG

καὶ

kaì

and

πλέον.[17]

pléon.

more.N.ACC.SG.

ἐστρατοπεδεύ-οντο ἑκάστοτε ἀπέχ-οντ-ες ἀλλήλ-ων παρασάγγ-ην καὶ πλέον.[17]

estratopedeú-onto hekástote apékh-ont-es allḗl-ōn parasáng-ēn kaì pléon.

camp.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT {at each time} {keep away.PRES-PTCP.PRES-M.NOM.PL} {each other-GEN.PL} parasang-ACC.SG and more.N.ACC.SG.

Every night the (two armies) would camp a parasang or more apart from each other.

ταῦτ-α

taût-a

this-N.NOM.PL

πολ-ὺν

pol-ùn

much-M.ACC.SG

χρόν-ον

khrón-on

time-ACC.SG

οὕτ-ως

hoút-ōs

this-ADV

ἐγίγν-ετο[18]

egígn-eto

happen.IMPERF.IND-3.SG.IMPERF.IND.MID.

ταῦτ-α πολ-ὺν χρόν-ον οὕτ-ως ἐγίγν-ετο[18]

taût-a pol-ùn khrón-on hoút-ōs egígn-eto

this-N.NOM.PL much-M.ACC.SG time-ACC.SG this-ADV happen.IMPERF.IND-3.SG.IMPERF.IND.MID.

These things carried on like this for long time.

συμβαλ-όντ-ες

sumbal-ónt-es

throw.AOR.ACT-PTCP.AOR-M.NOM.PL

τ-ᾱ̀ς

t-ā̀s

the-F.ACC.PL

ἀσπίδ-ας

aspíd-as

shield-ACC.PL

ἐωθ-οῦντο,

eōth-oûnto,

shove.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.MID,

ἐμάχ-οντο,

emákh-onto,

fight.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.MID,

ἀπέκτειν-ον,

apéktein-on,

kill.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT,

ἀπέθνῃσκ-ον.[19]

apéthnēisk-on.

die.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT.

συμβαλ-όντ-ες τ-ᾱ̀ς ἀσπίδ-ας ἐωθ-οῦντο, ἐμάχ-οντο, ἀπέκτειν-ον, ἀπέθνῃσκ-ον.[19]

sumbal-ónt-es t-ā̀s aspíd-as eōth-oûnto, emákh-onto, apéktein-on, apéthnēisk-on.

throw.AOR.ACT-PTCP.AOR-M.NOM.PL the-F.ACC.PL shield-ACC.PL shove.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.MID, fight.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.MID, kill.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT, die.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT.

Throwing together their shields, they began shoving, fighting, killing, and dying.

μετὰ

metà

after

τὸ

the.N.ACC.SG

δεῖπν-ον

deîpn-on

dinner-ACC.SG

τὸ

the.NOM.SG

παιδί-ον

paidí-on

baby-NOM.SG

ἐβό-α.[20]

ebó-a.

cry.IMPERF.IND-3.SG.IMPERF.IND.ACT.

μετὰ τὸ δεῖπν-ον τὸ παιδί-ον ἐβό-α.[20]

metà tò deîpn-on tò paidí-on ebó-a.

after the.N.ACC.SG dinner-ACC.SG the.NOM.SG baby-NOM.SG cry.IMPERF.IND-3.SG.IMPERF.IND.ACT.

After dinner the baby began crying.

ἐπειδὴ

epeidḕ

when

δὲ

CNJ

ἕ-ως

hé-ōs

dawn-NOM.SG

ἐγέν-ετο,

egén-eto,

happen.IMPERF.IND-3.SG.IMPERF.IND.MID,

διέβαιν-ον

diébain-on

cross.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT

τ-ὴν

t-ḕn

the-F.ACC.S

γέφῡρ-αν.[21]

géphūr-an.

bridge-ACC.SG.

ἐπειδὴ δὲ ἕ-ως ἐγέν-ετο, διέβαιν-ον τ-ὴν γέφῡρ-αν.[21]

epeidḕ dè hé-ōs egén-eto, diébain-on t-ḕn géphūr-an.

when CNJ dawn-NOM.SG happen.IMPERF.IND-3.SG.IMPERF.IND.MID, cross.IMPERF.IND-3.PL.IMPERF.IND.ACT the-F.ACC.S bridge-ACC.SG.

And when dawn came, they began crossing the bridge.