From: Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Date: Mon Nov 19 2001 - 07:46:30 EST
At 6:44 AM -0500 11/19/01, Harry W. Jones wrote:
>Dear Carl,
>
>Is this really an exception that proves the rule of noun and adjective
>agreement or is it really a grammatical error on the part of the author
>of Matthew?
No, this is not really an exception but a pretty standard rule. Smyth:
§1048. A predicate adjective referring to a masculine or feminine singular
subject is often neuter singular and equivalent to a substantive. This
occurs chiefly in statements of a general truth, where the subject refers
to a whole class, not to an individual thing. Thus, kalon eirênê peace is a
fine thing D. 19.336 , apiston tais poli_- [p. 277] teiais hê turannis
despotism is an object of mistrust to free states 1. 5, meizon polis henos
andros the state is larger than the individual P. R. 368e . So also in the
plural (1056).
Cf. BDF §138.: "The neuter is sometimes used with reference to persons if
it is not the individuals but a general quality that is to be emphasized."
>> At 1:52 PM +0800 11/17/01, Hirokatsu Yoshihara wrote:
>> >Dear list members,
>> >
>> >
>> >I am now working on exercises of Wenham's "The Elements of New Testament
>> >Greek" and have come across a problem. In Lesson 33 Exercise A-1, the
>> >sentence goes;
>> >
>> > OUAI, OUCI hH YUCH PLEION ESTIN THS TROFHS;
>> >
>> >My question is about PLEION. Why is this adjective used in the neuter
>> >form despite the fact that the other nouns ("hH YUCH" and "THS TROFHJ")
>> >are both feminine? A feminine form, or the nominative feminine singular
>> >form ("PLEIWN") should be used here, shouldn't it? If I am making a
>> >very simple mistake, I will apologize.
>>
>> I think that in this instance the neuter (comparative) adjective is being
>> used because YUCH is here thought of a "a thing"--as "something of value";
>> your workbook sentence is derived from Mt 6:25, the Sermon on the Mount:
>> DIA TOUTO LEGW hUMIN: MH MERMIMNATE THi YUCHi hUMWN TI FAGHTE MHDE TWi
>> SWMATI hUMWN TI ENDUSHSQE. OUCI hH YUCH PLEION ESTIN THS TROFHS KAI TO SWMA
>> TOU ENDUMATOS?
>>
>> "Isn't the soul/inner self a broader/bigger thing than nourishment and the
>> body a broader/bigger thing than clothing?"
>> --
>>
>> Carl W. Conrad
>> Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
>> Most months: 1647 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
>> cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cwconrad@ioa.com
>> WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/
>
>---
>B-Greek home page: http://metalab.unc.edu/bgreek
>You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu]
>To unsubscribe, forward this message to
>leave-b-greek-327Q@franklin.oit.unc.edu
>To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu
--
Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University (Emeritus)
Most months: 1647 Grindstaff Road/Burnsville, NC 28714/(828) 675-4243
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cwconrad@ioa.com
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/
---
B-Greek home page: http://metalab.unc.edu/bgreek
You are currently subscribed to b-greek as: [jwrobie@mindspring.com]
To unsubscribe, forward this message to leave-b-greek-327Q@franklin.oit.unc.edu
To subscribe, send a message to subscribe-b-greek@franklin.oit.unc.edu
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Apr 20 2002 - 15:37:12 EDT