dem. pronouns w/ multiple antecedents

Roe d.roe at t-online.de
Mon May 1 13:54:51 EDT 2000



Dear B-Greekers,

(Re: my posts "Gender & number: GOMORRA, SODOMA")

I recently demonstrated my lacking understanding of gender agreement for
demonstrative pronouns having multiple antecedents of differing genders.
My assumption had been that the demonstrative pronoun would be masculine
plural -- as masculine plural is used to indicate a group whose members
have heterogeneous genders.  (E.g., Rev 7:14 OhUTOI [masc.]  EISIN OhI
ERCOMENOI EK THS QLIYEWS THS MEGALHS...)


However, I am coming to the conclusion that when the demonstrative
pronoun refers to multiple mixed-gender antecedents, the pronoun stands
in neuter plural, as a few examples show:

Gal 5:17 TO DE PNEUMA [neut]  KATA THS SARKOS [fem], TAUTA [neut] GAR
ALLHLOIS ANTIKEITAI...     

Acts 7:49 hO OURANOS [m]  MOI QRONOS, hH DE GH [f]  hUPOPODION TWN PODWN
MOU... OUCI hH CEIR MOU EPOIHSEN TAUTA [n] PANTA

John 6:9 ESTIN PAIDARION hWDE hOS ECEI PENTE ARTOUS [m] KRIQINOUS KAI
DUO OYARIA [n], ALLA TAUTA [n]  TI ESTIN EIS TOSOUTOUS


Is my conclusion that demonstrative pronouns having multiple antecedents
of differing genders are as a rule (always?) neuter? If so, what is the
situation with Hebrews 11:13? -- KATA PISTIN APEQANON OhUTOI [masc.] 
PANTES... Because Sarah is mentioned as one of those, I presume that
OhUTOI could not refer to each of those listed in the above verses as
multiple specific antecedents, as in the other examples above (for I
would then expect neuter pl. - TAUTA), but that it instead refers
generally to the mixed-gender group.  

Where am I still erring? (Besides perhaps posting a question below the
assumed Greek level for forum participants...)

Thanks for any help, and have a great week!

David
(Half of whose posts are rightly labelled 'off topic'... with the other
half wrongly not...)


D. W. Roe
Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany



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