Athenaze
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Athenaze
Is anyone studying Greek from Athenaze, Book 1?
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Re: Athenaze
I am using it as a supplementary textbook for my Greek students, actually.
N.E. Barry Hofstetter, M.A., Th.M.
Ph.D. Student U of FL
Instructor of Latin
Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy
καὶ σὺ τὸ σὸν ποιήσεις κἀγὼ τὸ ἐμόν. ἆρον τὸ σὸν καὶ ὕπαγε.
Ph.D. Student U of FL
Instructor of Latin
Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy
καὶ σὺ τὸ σὸν ποιήσεις κἀγὼ τὸ ἐμόν. ἆρον τὸ σὸν καὶ ὕπαγε.
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Re: Athenaze
I finished book 1, but I wouldn't mind a refresher from it. Are you asking for people to join you in study? What are you asking about?
Jason A. Hare
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
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Re: Athenaze
I had a question concerning the story on page 25 (the Second Edition). The Greek word for "possible" is in the neuter case in the sentence of line 14, "For it is possible to lift the stone." Is it neuter because "it" is considered to be impersonal?
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Re: Athenaze
The phrase in question is:Mark Trzasko wrote:I had a question concerning the story on page 25 (the Second Edition). The Greek word for "possible" is in the neuter case in the sentence of line 14, "For it is possible to lift the stone." Is it neuter because "it" is considered to be impersonal?
δυνατὸν γάρ ἐστιν αἴρειν τὸν λίθον.
For it is impossible to lift the stone.
The agreement would be with the infinitive itself.
Since the "infinitive was originally a verbal noun in the dative... case" (Smyth §1969), it appears with the neuter article (Smyth §1968.b.) and also with neuter descriptors. It's also logical since it is neither masculine nor feminine in concept. Maybe someone else will be able to provide a better explanation, but this is what I found in Smyth.From Smyth (§1985):
1985. Such quasi-impersonal verbs and expressions are δεῖ it is necessary, χρή (properly a substantive with ἐστί omitted, 793) it is necessary, δοκεῖ it seems good, ἔστι it is possible, ἔξεστι it is in one's power, οἷόν τέ ἐστι it is possible, πρέπει and προσήκει it is fitting, συμβαίνει it happens; and many expressions formed by ἐστί and a predicate noun, as ἄξιον it is right, δίκαιον it is just, ἀναγκαῖον it is necessary, δυνατόν it is possible, ἀδύνατον (or ἀδύνατα) it is impossible, αἰσχρόν it is disgraceful, καλόν it is honourable, ὥρα and καιρός it is time. With the last two expressions the old dative use of the infinitive is clear: ὥρα βουλεύεσθαι it is time for considering P. Soph. 241b.
Hope it helps!
Jason
Jason A. Hare
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
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Re: Athenaze
Jason, thanks for your help!
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Re: Athenaze
On page 31 of Athenaze, line 9 has, "Dig the stones and carry out out of the field." Why does Greek have a redundant preposition?
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Re: Athenaze
Again, it's better if you provide the Greek lines that you're referring to.Mark Trzasko wrote:On page 31 of Athenaze, line 9 has, "Dig the stones and carry out out of the field." Why does Greek have a redundant preposition?
In this case:
σκάπτε τοὺς λίθους καὶ ἔκφερε ἐκ τοῦ ἀγροῦ.
Dig the stones and carry [them] out of the field.
You will come to see that prepositions attached to verbs are frequently repeated with their objects. This seems redundant in English, but it isn't really the case in Greek.
In English, the verb "enter" implies the preposition "into." Thus, we say "enter the house" in equivalence to "go in(to) the house." Yet, there are those who might say that someone "entered into the house." This is slightly redundant, but it isn't against the feeling of the sentence.
The same is true in Greek, in which you might say that someone εἰσβαίνει εἰς τὸν οἶκον "enters (into) the house." You shouldn't take it as redundant but as a feature of Greek. It's very common.
Jason A. Hare
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
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Re: Athenaze
Thanks Jason. Which program do you use to type out the Greek lettering?
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Re: Athenaze
I have Windows 7, and I use the standard Polytonic Greek keyboard layout that comes with the system.
Jason A. Hare
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel
The Hebrew Café
Tel Aviv, Israel