New Testament Greek Grammar

Updated 12/16/11

New Testament Greek Grammar

Prepared by Paul M. Nguyen

Table of Contents
Nouns...............................................................................................................................................3
Cases...........................................................................................................................................3
First and Second Declension.......................................................................................................3
First Declension , , type.........................................................................................................4
Third Declension.........................................................................................................................4
Definite Article............................................................................................................................4
Pronouns..........................................................................................................................................5
Personal Pronouns.......................................................................................................................5
First & Second Person............................................................................................................5
Third Person...........................................................................................................................5
Relative Pronouns.......................................................................................................................6
Demonstrative Pronouns.............................................................................................................6
This & These..........................................................................................................................6
That & Those..........................................................................................................................7
Reflexive Pronouns.....................................................................................................................7
First & Second Person............................................................................................................7
Third Person...........................................................................................................................7
Interrogative & Indefinite Pronouns...........................................................................................8
Adjectives........................................................................................................................................9
First and Second Declension.......................................................................................................9
Third Declension.........................................................................................................................9
Verbs..............................................................................................................................................10
Present Indicative Active & Middle/Passive.............................................................................10
Future Indicative Active, Middle, Passive................................................................................10
Imperfect Indicative Active & Middle/Passive.........................................................................10
Aorist Indicative Active, Middle, Passive.................................................................................11
First Aorist............................................................................................................................11
Second Aorist.......................................................................................................................11
Perfect Indicative Active & Middle/Passive.............................................................................11
Imperative Mood.......................................................................................................................12
Present Imperative Active & Middle/Passive.......................................................................12
Aorist Imperative Active, Middle, Passive...........................................................................12
Subjunctive Mood.....................................................................................................................12
Present Subjunctive Active & Middle/Passive.....................................................................12
Aorist Subjunctive Active, Middle, Passive.........................................................................13
Participles.......................................................................................................................................14
Present Active Participles.........................................................................................................14
Present Middle/Passive Participles...........................................................................................14
Aorist Active & Middle Participles...........................................................................................15

New Testament Greek Grammar

Updated 12/16/11

Perfect Active & Middle/Passive Participles............................................................................15

Contract Verbs...............................................................................................................................16
Alpha-type: Present Indicative Active & Middle/Passive........................................................16
Epsilon/Omicron-type: Present Indicative Active & Middle/Passive.......................................16
The linking verb , to be........................................................................................................17
Present Indicative Active..........................................................................................................17
Imperfect Indicative Active.......................................................................................................17
Future Indicative Active............................................................................................................17
Present Active Participle...........................................................................................................18
Adding letters together...................................................................................................................19
Consonants................................................................................................................................19
Vowels.......................................................................................................................................19
Vowel Length & Dipthongs......................................................................................................19

New Testament Greek Grammar

Updated 12/16/11

Nouns
A noun is a word that signifies a person, place, thing, or idea. Decline nouns (according to their
declension) to give number (singular, plural), gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), and case
(nominative, genitive, dative, accusative). Each noun has a specific gender that will not change.
The principal parts of a noun are: nominative singular, genitive singular, and nominative
singular definite article. The definite article given in the dictionary tells the gender of the noun.

Cases
Example: He read his book to her.
Nominative: the subject of a verb (who). When using the linking verb to be (),
nominatives appear also in the predicate. (In the example, He)
Genitive: shows possession (of whom; of the Lord: ). (In the example, his)
Dative: the indirect object or receiver of action (to whom). (In the example, her)
Accusative: the direct object or what is acted upon (whom). (In the example, book)

First and Second Declension

First declension nouns are mostly feminine; second declension nouns are either masculine or
neuter. Notice that case-making suffixes are added to a stem that does not change.
Feminine (1st: earth)

Neuter (2nd: child)

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Singular

Masculine (2nd: time)

Masculine

New Testament Greek Grammar

Updated 12/16/11

First Declension , , type

When the noun's stem ends in , , , replace with . (N.B. genitive sing. & accusative pl.)
Singular

Feminine (house)

Plural

Feminine

Nominative

Nominative

Genitive

Genitive

Dative

Dative

Accusative

Accusative

Third Declension
Third declension nouns vary in gender. Their nominative forms are irregular, so the genitive will
reveal the stem for the rest of the cases.
Singular

blood (neuter)

Plural

blood (neuter)

Nominative

Nominative

Genitive

Genitive

Dative

Dative

Accusative

Accusative

Definite Article
In English, the definite article is the word the. In Greek, it acts like an adjective, agreeing with
the noun it modifies in number, case, and gender.
Singular

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Masculine

New Testament Greek Grammar

Updated 12/16/11

Pronouns
Pronouns take the place of a noun. English equivalents include he, she, it, who, whom, which,
this, that. Greek has personal, relative, demonstrative, reflexive, interrogative and indefinite
pronouns.

Personal Pronouns
First & Second Person
Translate these as I, of me, to/for me, me and We, of us, to/for us, us etc.
1st Person: We

2nd Person: You 2nd Person Plural

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Singular

1st Person: I

Third Person
Translate these as he, of him, to/for him, him etc.
Singular

Masculine (he)

Feminine (she)

Neuter (it)

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Feminine (they)

Neuter (they)

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Masculine (they)

New Testament Greek Grammar

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Relative Pronouns
little dinky word with a rough c and an accent
Construct from the definite article: remove , change to rough breathing, accent nominatives and
accusatives with acute, and genitives and datives with circumflex.
Translate as who, of whom, to whom, whom or which, of which, to which, which
Singular

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Feminine

Neuter

Masculine

Nominative
Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Demonstrative Pronouns
This & These
auto with a or a rough c
Construct these from the third person personal pronoun (), adding a to everything but the
nominatives, and changing initial to when it (or ) is present in the ending.
Singular

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Masculine

New Testament Greek Grammar

Updated 12/16/11

That & Those

Decline the first/second declension adjective .
Singular

Masculine

Nominative

Feminine

Neuter

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Feminine

Neuter

Masculine

Nominative
Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Reflexive Pronouns
auto with an e: prefix -

First & Second Person

Add for first person singular; for second person singular. Translate of myself etc.
Singular

1st Person Masc.

1st Person Fem.

2nd Person Masc.

2nd Person Fem.

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

1st Person Masc.

1st Person Fem.

2nd Person Masc.

2nd Person Fem.

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Third Person
Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Singular

Plural

Singular

Plural

Singular

Plural

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

New Testament Greek Grammar

Updated 12/16/11

Interrogative & Indefinite Pronouns

Interrogative pronouns ask a question; translate them as who? or what?
Indefinite pronouns stand for something or someone.
Tea with Tina
Interrogative
Singular

Masc./Fem.

Indefinite

Neuter

Masc./Fem.

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Neuter

Masc./Fem.

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

()

()

()

()

Masc./Fem.

Accusative

New Testament Greek Grammar

Updated 12/16/11

Adjectives
Adjectives are warehouses of information. Their principal parts are the nominative singular
forms in all three genders. Adjectives must be declined (within their own declension family) to
agree with the noun that they modify: matching case, number, and gender.

First and Second Declension

Adjectives of the first two declensions are so called because their declensions are taken:

for masculine nouns: from the masculine second declension;

for feminine nouns: from the first declension;

and for neuter nouns: from the neuter second declension.

Third Declension
The adjective meaning all is typically used to demonstrate the third declension adjectives.
Singular

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Masculine

Accusative

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Verbs
Every verb, a word expressing an action, conveys the following information: person (first,
second, third), number (singular, plural), tense (present, imperfect, aorist, perfect, future),
voice (active, middle, passive), and mood (indicative, imperative, subjunctive).

Present Indicative Active & Middle/Passive

Active Voice

: to loose
st

Singular

Middle/Passive Voice
Plural

Singular

Plural

1 Person

2nd Person

3rd Person

Future Indicative Active, Middle, Passive

The future is formed from the present tense by simply adding a to the stem. The middle voice
is formed in the same fashion as present middle/passive. The passive voice is formed by inserting
before the in the future stem of the middle voice.

to loose
1st Person

Active Voice
Singular

Plural

Middle Voice
Singular

Passive Voice

Plural

Singular

Plural

2nd Person

3rd Person

Imperfect Indicative Active & Middle/Passive

The imperfect tense is used for continuous action in the past.
The imperfect is formed from the present tense. First, the stem is formed by augmenting a
smooth at the beginning of the root (contracts into a final vowel of a prepositional prefix, if
present). The second and third person singular forms are formed by removing the from the
present tense. The middle/passive voice is similar to the present tense endings.
: to loose

Active Voice
Singular

Middle/Passive Voice
Plural

Singular

Plural

1 Person

2nd Person

3rd Person

st

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Aorist Indicative Active, Middle, Passive

The aorist tense expresses the simple past.
The aorist is formed differently depending on the verb. Many verbs have an irregular aorist stem
these are called second aorist. Personal endings from the imperfect tense are added to this stem.
Otherwise, the first aorist stem is formed by augmenting a smooth as in the imperfect, and
at the end of the present stem. Personal active, middle, and passive endings are then added.

First Aorist

to loose

Active Voice

Passive Voice

Plural

Singular

2 Person

3 Person

1st Person

Singular

Middle Voice

nd
rd

Plural

Singular

Plural

Second Aorist

to say

Active Voice
Singular

Singular

Passive Voice

Plural

Singular

Plural

2nd Person

3rd Person

st

1 Person

Plural

Middle Voice

Perfect Indicative Active & Middle/Passive

The perfect tense is used for definite action in the past that has an enduring effect on the present.
The perfect stem is formed from the present tense stem, -augmented as in the imperfect, and if
the stem had an initial consonant, it is added once more before the augment. To the end of the
stem, is added. The personal endings are added to this stem. The middle/passive voice stem is
the active stem without , to which are added the present middle/passive personal endings
without their connecting vowels.
: to loose

Active Voice
Singular

Middle/Passive Voice
Plural

Singular

Plural

1st Person

2nd Person

3rd Person

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Imperative Mood
The imperative mood (as opposed to the indicative and subjunctive moods) gives commands, in
relative time.
Begin with the standard indicative mood second person plural form. Change the final to to
form the third person singular. Add to this to form the third person plural.
The second person singular form is irregular.

Present Imperative Active & Middle/Passive

Present imperatives are understood as ongoing actions commanded.
Active Voice

: to loose

Singular

Middle/Passive Voice
Plural

Singular

Plural

nd

rd

2 Person
3 Person

Aorist Imperative Active, Middle, Passive

Aorist imperatives are understood as actions commanded to be done once.

to loose

Active Voice
Singular

Plural

nd

Middle Voice
Singular

Passive Voice

Plural

Singular

2 Person

3rd Person

Plural

Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive mood contains only present and aorist tenses. The presence of (in order
that) or (if) will alert us to the use of the subjunctive.

Present Subjunctive Active & Middle/Passive

Form this by taking the present indicative conjugation and lengthening the connecting vowel.
Active Voice

: to loose

Singular

Middle/Passive Voice
Plural

Singular

Plural

1st Person

2nd Person

rd

3 Person

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Aorist Subjunctive Active, Middle, Passive

Form this by taking the present subjunctive conjugation add to the stem:

for the active voice

and middle voice endings, with connecting vowels lengthened

for passive voice, with personal endings as in the active voice

Active Voice

to loose
1st Person

Singular

Plural

Middle Voice
Singular

Passive Voice

Plural

Singular

Plural

2nd Person

3rd Person

Infinitives
Infinitives are verbal nouns; that is, they adapt a verb expressing action to be used as a noun. In
English, the infinitive to walk could also be understood as walking in the substantive sense.
Form these using the and endings possibly added to some connecting letters as follows:
: to loose

Present

Future

Aorist

Perfect

Active Voice

Middle Voice

Passive Voice

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Participles
Participles are verbal adjectives. That is, they express action, but describe a noun. This means
that participles convey the following information, and they are formed by a process of
conjugation and declension: number, tense, voice, case, and gender. Particples roughly follow
the third declension rules for their case-making endings in the masculine and neuter, and second
declension for the feminine gender.

Present Active Participles

Take the present stem (remove the ) and add these endings.
Singular

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Masculine

Present Middle/Passive Participles

Add - to the stem and then add standard first and second declension adjectival endings.
Singular

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Masculine

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Aorist Active & Middle Participles

Add - to form the stem; add third and first declension endings as in present participles.
Active Voice
Singular

Masculine

Middle Voice

Feminine

Neuter

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Nominative

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Perfect Active & Middle/Passive Participles

Perform -augment, reduplication, and -suffix to form the stem as in perfect tense verbs; add
third and first declension endings as in present participles. The feminine form is different. Note
that in the formation of the middle voice, there is no connecting vowel; only - is added.
Active Voice
Sing.

Masculine

Middle/Passive Voice

Feminine

Neuter

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Nom.

Gen.

Dat.

Acc.

Plural Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Nom.

Gen.

Dat.

Acc.

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Contract Verbs
Contract verbs are so-called because their stems end in vowels (e.g. ), and vowels of
standard endings are contracted into them.

Alpha-type: Present Indicative Active & Middle/Passive

Remove to leave the stem; add typical active personal endings, and reduce to one vowel in the
ending, including the stem vowel. Preserve any present, converting them to -subscripts. When
choosing the vowel to remain, use if any or are present; else use the that is present.
:
to love

Active Voice
Singular

Middle/Passive Voice
Plural

Singular

Plural

nd

rd

1st Person
2 Person
3 Person

Epsilon/Omicron-type: Present Indicative Active & Middle/Passive

Remove to leave the stem; add typical active personal endings, and reduce to one vowel in the
ending, including the stem vowel. Preserve any present, converting them to -subscripts. Follow
these rules, in order:
1. One or more long vowels yield a long vowel (, )
2. Two or more short vowels yield two short vowels
3. always wins; always loses
:
to crucify
st

Active Voice
Construction

Middle/Passive Voice
Final

Construction

Final

1 Person Sg.

2nd Person Sg.

3rd Person Sg.

1st Person Pl.

2nd Person Pl.

rd

3 Person Pl.

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The linking verb , to be

The most versatile and ubiquitous words are the most irregular, and is no exception.

Present Indicative Active

Active Voice

: to be

Singular

Plural

st

nd

2 Person

3rd Person

1 Person

Imperfect Indicative Active

Active Voice

: to be

Singular

Plural

1 Person

2nd Person

3rd Person

st

Future Indicative Active

Form the future by adding middle voice personal endings to -.
Active Voice

: to be

Singular

Plural

1 Person

2nd Person

3rd Person

st

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Present Active Participle

Formed as just the endings of present active participles in general.
Singular

Masculine

Nominative

Feminine

Neuter

Genitive

Dative

Accusative

Plural

Feminine

Neuter

Masculine

Nominative
Genitive

Dative

Accusative

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Adding letters together

A problem arises when adding certain vowels to one another or certain consonants to one another
(particularly concerning and / in the formation of future and aorist verbs). The following
table shows the transformations that occur.

Consonants
Already present

Append

Result

, , , (dentals)

, , (labials)

()

, , (liquids)

, ,

, , (palletals)

()

Vowels
Some vowel sequences are not permitted when these arise in the course of conjugating verbs,
contract them as shown in this table.
Past tense -augment

Contract verb connecting vowels

Prepend

To already present

Result

Vowel Sequence

Corrected

, , ,

, ,

Vowel Length & Dipthongs

Long vowels: , , . Short vowels: , , ,
Dipthongs (considered long; consist of strong-weak vowels): , , , , , , , .