From: Harry W. Jones (hjbluebird@aol.com)
Date: Tue Nov 20 2001 - 05:51:18 EST
Well Carl,
I guess I learn something new every day. Robertson also points
out the fluctuations of gender on page 410 of his big grammar.
Thanks,
Harry Jones
> 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:
>
> =A71048. 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 eir=EAn=EA peace=
> is a
> fine thing D. 19.336 , apiston tais poli_- [p. 277] teiais h=EA 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 =A7138.: "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 SW=
> MA
> >> TOU ENDUMATOS?
> >>
> >> "Isn't the soul/inner self a broader/bigger thing than nourishment and th=
> e
> >> 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
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> --
>
> 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/
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