[B-Greek] D. B. Wallace on neuter plural subject with plural verb

Carl W. Conrad cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
Sun Jan 4 17:51:12 EST 2004


At 3:53 PM -0500 1/4/04, Polycarp66 at aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 1/4/2004 3:25:23 PM Eastern Standard Time,
>listas at alcanceweb.com writes:
>On page 400 of Wallace's Greek Grammar Beyond the
>Basics, I followed his text just fine, until the
>Robertson quote. Wallace says,
>
>"However, when the author wants to _stress_ the
>individuality of each subject involved in a neuter
>plural subject, the plural verb is used."
>
>No problem. Then he quotes Robertson, "'Usually a
>neuter plural in the N.T. that has a personal or
>collective meaning has a plural verb.'" (with footnote)
>The note cites exceptions to Robertson's rule, but
>doesn't seem to account for the opposite meaning I get
>between Wallace and Robertson. Robertson seems to say
>neuter plural subject plus plural verb equals
>collective meaning. (Is Wallace cueing in on "personal"
>meaning?)
>
>I understand Wallace's point, but the Robertson quote
>seems to say the opposite. The juxtaposition of
>Wallace's affirmation and the Robertson quote is what
>has me
>
>Scratching my head,
>________
>
>Yes, Wallace subsumes this under the category of "A Neuter Plural Subject
>with Singular Verb" and seems to indicate that whereas this indicates that the
>subject is taken as a collective *** the exception (or different usage)
>*** that
>you have cited lays stress on the individual.  Note, however, how he
>references Robertson
>
>"Robertson, Grammar, 403. This is *** not always the case, *** however;
>sometimes even a personal plural subject in the neuter takes a singular verb "
>
>Robertson's point was that Koine has abandoned the classical usage here ***
>and there are exceptions ****.  On the following page Robertson states,
>
>"But the only rule on the matter that is true in the N.T. Greek is the rule
>of liberty."

I don't know whether there's really any need to add a note to what George
has said; it seems to me it would be simplest to say that in the GNT neuter
plural subjects quite commonly take a singular verb, as they regularly did
in classical Attic, but that the more rigid rule of classical Attic is not
so regularly observed in the Hellenistic Koine. I'd be leery of attempting
to establish consistent rules of when and why plural verbs may be used with
neuter plural subjects in Koine.
-- 

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
1989 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad at artsci.wustl.edu
WWW: http://www.ioa.com/~cwconrad/



More information about the B-Greek mailing list