Athonite Grammar: Difference between revisions

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===Nouns===
===Nouns===
*Nouns are divided into three classes known as masculine, feminine, and neuter.
*Nouns are divided into three classes known as masculine, feminine, and neuter.
*Masculine nouns are those preceded by the definite article <font color=blue>ø</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>ø ánþrop</font>, the man; <font color=blue>ø patér</font>, the father. The indefinite article is <font color=blue>en</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>en kíp</font>, a garden.
*Masculine nouns are those preceded by the definite article <font color=blue>ø</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>ø ánþrop</font>, the man; <font color=blue>ø pätér</font>, the father. The indefinite article is <font color=blue>en</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>en kíp</font>, a garden.
*Feminine nouns are those preceded by the definite article <font color=blue>i</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>i pørt</font>, the door; <font color=blue>i ginék</font>, the woman. The indefinite article is <font color=blue>éni</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>én' istørí</font>.
*Feminine nouns are those preceded by the definite article <font color=blue>i</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>i pørt</font>, the door; <font color=blue>i ginék</font>, the woman. The indefinite article is <font color=blue>éni</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>én' istørí</font>.
*Neuter nouns are those preceded by the definite article <font color=blue>tø</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>tø grafí</font>, the office; <font color=blue>tø péð</font>, the child. The indefinite article is <font color=blue>éna</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>éna ðømáti</font>.
*Neuter nouns are those preceded by the definite article <font color=blue>tø</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>tø gräfí</font>, the office; <font color=blue>tø péð</font>, the child. The indefinite article is <font color=blue>énä</font>, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>éna ðømáti</font>.
*The final vowel is elided when it is the same as the initial vowel of the word following, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>én' istrí</font>; <font color=blue>én' amáx</font>.
*The final vowel is elided when it is the same as the initial vowel of the word following, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>én' istrí</font>; <font color=blue>én' amáx</font>.


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**<font color=blue>en þi</font>, an uncle > <font color=blue>énos þi</font>, of an uncle
**<font color=blue>en þi</font>, an uncle > <font color=blue>énos þi</font>, of an uncle
**<font color=blue>éni þi</font>, an aunt > <font color=blue>énis þi</font>, of an aunt
**<font color=blue>éni þi</font>, an aunt > <font color=blue>énis þi</font>, of an aunt
**<font color=blue>éna pøð</font>, a foot > <font color=blue>énas pøð</font>, of the foot
**<font color=blue>énä pøð</font>, a foot > <font color=blue>énäs pøð</font>, of the foot
*The plural definite article:
*The plural definite article:
**<font color=blue>ø þis</font>, the uncles > <font color=blue>ton þis</font>, of the uncles
**<font color=blue>ø þis</font>, the uncles > <font color=blue>ton þis</font>, of the uncles
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**<font color=blue>en þi</font>, some uncles > <font color=blue>énon þis</font>, of some uncles
**<font color=blue>en þi</font>, some uncles > <font color=blue>énon þis</font>, of some uncles
**<font color=blue>éni þi</font>, some aunts > <font color=blue>énon þis</font>, of some aunts
**<font color=blue>éni þi</font>, some aunts > <font color=blue>énon þis</font>, of some aunts
**<font color=blue>éna pøð</font>, some feet > <font color=blue>énon pøðs</font>, of some feet
**<font color=blue>énä pøð</font>, some feet > <font color=blue>énon pøðs</font>, of some feet
*The genitive case is used to express possession of appurtenance
*The genitive case is used to express possession of appurtenance
**<font color=blue>T' ǿnøm tu patér mu Vasíl in</font>, the name of my father is Basil.
**<font color=blue>T' ǿnøm tu pätér mu Vasíl in</font>, the name of my father is Basil.
**<font color=blue>Ø aðélf mu en fil tu Giórgu in</font>, my brother is a friend of George.
**<font color=blue>Ø äðélf mu en fil tu Giórgu in</font>, my brother is a friend of George.
**<font color=blue>I pørt tu spít mu mávr in</font>, the door of my house is black.
**<font color=blue>I pørt tu spít mu mávr in</font>, the door of my house is black.


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**<font color=blue>en þi</font>, an uncle > <font color=blue>énøn þi</font>, an uncle
**<font color=blue>en þi</font>, an uncle > <font color=blue>énøn þi</font>, an uncle
**<font color=blue>éni þi</font>, an aunt > <font color=blue>énin þi</font>, an aunt
**<font color=blue>éni þi</font>, an aunt > <font color=blue>énin þi</font>, an aunt
**<font color=blue>éna pøð</font>, a foot > <font color=blue>énan pøð</font>, the foot
**<font color=blue>énä pøð</font>, a foot > <font color=blue>énän pøð</font>, the foot
*The plural definite article:
*The plural definite article:
**<font color=blue>ø þis</font>, the uncles > <font color=blue>ta þis</font>, the uncles
**<font color=blue>ø þis</font>, the uncles > <font color=blue>ta þis</font>, the uncles
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**<font color=blue>en þi</font>, some uncles > <font color=blue>énøn þis</font>, some uncles
**<font color=blue>en þi</font>, some uncles > <font color=blue>énøn þis</font>, some uncles
**<font color=blue>éni þi</font>, some aunts > <font color=blue>énin þis</font>, some aunts
**<font color=blue>éni þi</font>, some aunts > <font color=blue>énin þis</font>, some aunts
**<font color=blue>éna pøð</font>, some feet > <font color=blue>énan pøðs</font>, some feet
**<font color=blue>énä pøð</font>, some feet > <font color=blue>énän pøðs</font>, some feet
*The accusative case is used:
*The accusative case is used:
**After the prepositions <font color=blue>se, me, páno se, kontá se, mésa se, apǿ, páno apǿ, káto apǿ, giá</font>, etc.
**After the prepositions <font color=blue>se, me, páno se, kontá se, mésä se, äpǿ, páno äpǿ, káto äpǿ, giá</font>, etc.
**As the direct object of verbs, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>Go énon ánþrop vlep</font>, I see a man.
**As the direct object of verbs, ''e.g.'', <font color=blue>Go énon ánþrop vlep</font>, I see a man.


===Adjectives===
===Adjectives===
*Adjectives precede the noun they modify.
*Adjectives precede the noun they modify.
**<font color=blue>ø kal ánþrop</font>, the good man
**<font color=blue>ø käl ánþrop</font>, the good man
**<font color=blue>i kal ginék</font>, the good woman
**<font color=blue>i käl ginék</font>, the good woman
**<font color=blue>tø kal péð</font>, the good child
**<font color=blue>tø käl péð</font>, the good child
**<font color=blue>ø megál kip</font>, the large garden
**<font color=blue>ø megál kip</font>, the large garden
**<font color=blue>i megál pørt</font>, the large door
**<font color=blue>i megál pørt</font>, the large door
**<font color=blue>tø megál ðomáti</font>, the large room
**<font color=blue>tø megál ðomáti</font>, the large room
*The adjectives <font color=blue>aft</font>, 'this' and <font color=blue>ekín</font>, 'that' precede the definite article.
*The adjectives <font color=blue>äft</font>, 'this' and <font color=blue>ekín</font>, 'that' precede the definite article.
**<font color=blue>aft ø ánþrop</font>, this man
**<font color=blue>äft ø ánþrop</font>, this man
**<font color=blue>aft ø kip</font>, this garden
**<font color=blue>äft ø kip</font>, this garden
**<font color=blue>aft i ginék</font>, this woman
**<font color=blue>äft i ginék</font>, this woman
**<font color=blue>af' tø ped</font>, this child
**<font color=blue>äf' tø ped</font>, this child
**<font color=blue>af' tø amáx</font>, this cart
**<font color=blue>äf' tø ämáx</font>, this cart
**<font color=blue>ekín ø ergát</font>, that worker
**<font color=blue>ekín ø ergát</font>, that worker
**<font color=blue>ekín i nikht</font>, that night
**<font color=blue>ekín i nikht</font>, that night
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**<font color=blue>tø proín étim ðen in</font>, breakfast is not ready.
**<font color=blue>tø proín étim ðen in</font>, breakfast is not ready.
**<font color=blue>tø bar gemát ðen in</font>, the bar is not full.
**<font color=blue>tø bar gemát ðen in</font>, the bar is not full.
**<font color=blue>aft i pørt megál ðen in</font>, this door is not big.
**<font color=blue>äft i pørt megál ðen in</font>, this door is not big.


====The Possessive Adjectives====
====The Possessive Adjectives====
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|i=No| 1.
|i=No| 1.
|c=01| <font color=blue>mu</font>, my
|c=01| <font color=blue>mu</font>, my
|c=02| <font color=blue>mas</font>, our
|c=02| <font color=blue>mäs</font>, our
|-
|-
|i=No| 2.
|i=No| 2.
|c=01| <font color=blue>su</font>, your
|c=01| <font color=blue>su</font>, your
|c=02| <font color=blue>sas</font>, your
|c=02| <font color=blue>säs</font>, your
|-
|-
|i=No| 3.
|i=No| 3.
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**<font color=blue>ø fil</font>, the friend; <font color=blue>ø fil mu</font>, my friend
**<font color=blue>ø fil</font>, the friend; <font color=blue>ø fil mu</font>, my friend
**<font color=blue>tø kher mu</font>, my hand
**<font color=blue>tø kher mu</font>, my hand
**<font color=blue>ø patér su</font>, your father
**<font color=blue>ø pätér su</font>, your father
**<font color=blue>i mitér tis</font>, her mother
**<font color=blue>i mitér tis</font>, her mother
**<font color=blue>ø kip mas</font>, our garden
**<font color=blue>ø kip mäs</font>, our garden
**<font color=blue>ø kips mas</font>, our gardens
**<font color=blue>ø kips mäs</font>, our gardens
**<font color=blue>tø lept sas</font>, your money
**<font color=blue>tø lept säs</font>, your money
*The possessive adjectives are enclitics. They have no accent of their own but add a syllable to the word, so that the accent of the preceding word is drawn to them.
*The possessive adjectives are enclitics. They have no accent of their own but add a syllable to the word, so that the accent of the preceding word is drawn to them.
**<font color=blue>t' ǿnøm</font>, the name; <font color=blue>t' ønǿm mu</font>, my name
**<font color=blue>t' ǿnøm</font>, the name; <font color=blue>t' ønǿm mu</font>, my name
**<font color=blue>i ikøgéni</font>, the family; <font color=blue>i ikøgení mu</font>, my family
**<font color=blue>i ikøgéni</font>, the family; <font color=blue>i ikøgení mu</font>, my family
*When the nouns are preceded by an adjective the possessive adjective is put after the noun.
*When the nouns are preceded by an adjective the possessive adjective is put after the noun.
**<font color=blue>tø amáx</font>, the cart; <font color=blue>tø kenúri amáx</font>, the new cart; <font color=blue>tø kenúri amáx mu</font>, my new cart
**<font color=blue>tø ämáx</font>, the cart; <font color=blue>tø kenúri ämáx</font>, the new cart; <font color=blue>tø kenúri ämáx mu</font>, my new cart
**<font color=blue>ø kal fíl mas</font>, our good friend
**<font color=blue>ø käl fíl mäs</font>, our good friend


====Comparison of Adjectives====
====Comparison of Adjectives====
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*Piǿ</font> is an enclitic and causes an accent on the following adjective if it doesn't already have one.
*Piǿ</font> is an enclitic and causes an accent on the following adjective if it doesn't already have one.
**<font color=blue>Ø Mikhál plúsi in</font>, Michael is rich.
**<font color=blue>Ø Mikhál plúsi in</font>, Michael is rich.
**<font color=blue>Ø aðélf mu piǿ dinát apǿ aðélf su in</font>, my brother is stronger than your brother.
**<font color=blue>Ø äðélf mu piǿ dinát pǿ äðélf su in</font>, my brother is stronger than your brother.
**<font color=blue>Ø Gián piø ftókh apǿ tǿn Kóstas in</font>, John is poorer than Costas.
**<font color=blue>Ø Gián piø ftókh äpǿ tǿn Kóstäs in</font>, John is poorer than Costas.
**<font color=blue>Af' to spit piø kál ap' ekín</font>, This house is better than that one.
**<font color=blue>Af' to spit piø kál ap' ekín</font>, This house is better than that one.
**<font color=blue>Af' to aftokínet polí pio khír apǿ to álǿ in</font>, This automobile much worse than the other.
**<font color=blue>Af' to äftokínet polí pio khír äpǿ tøn áløn in</font>, This automobile much worse than the other.
*Adjectives form the superlative degree by using the definite article before the comparative form and the preposition <font color=blue>se</font> after it.
*Adjectives form the superlative degree by using the definite article before the comparative form and the preposition <font color=blue>se</font> after it.
**<font color=blue>Ø André ø piø kál maþít støn tax tu</font>, Andrew is the best pupil in his class.
**<font color=blue>Ø André ø piø kál mäþít støn tax tu</font>, Andrew is the best pupil in his class.
**<font color=blue>Ø patér tis ø piø plúsi stin Aþín in</font>, Her father is the richest man in Athens.
**<font color=blue>Ø pätér tis ø piø plúsi stin Äþín in</font>, Her father is the richest man in Athens.
**<font color=blue>I Elén i piø oré ginék stin Elláð it</font>, Helen was the most beautiful woman in Greece.
**<font color=blue>I Elén i piø oré ginék stin Elláð it</font>, Helen was the most beautiful woman in Greece.


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**<font color=blue>ø ándris</font>, the men
**<font color=blue>ø ándris</font>, the men
**<font color=blue>ø ergáts</font>, the men
**<font color=blue>ø ergáts</font>, the men
**<font color=blue>i adélfs</font>, the sisters
**<font color=blue>i ädélfs</font>, the sisters
**<font color=blue>i mers</font>, the days
**<font color=blue>i mers</font>, the days
**<font color=blue>i léxis</font>, the words
**<font color=blue>i léxis</font>, the words
**<font color=blue>i sképsis</font>, the thoughts
**<font color=blue>i sképsis</font>, the thoughts
**<font color=blue>tø tsigárs</font>, the cigarettes
**<font color=blue>tø tsigárs</font>, the cigarettes
**<font color=blue>tø amáxis</font>, the carts
**<font color=blue>tø ämáxis</font>, the carts
**Irregular plurals:
**Irregular plurals:
***<font color=blue>tø khróma</font>, the color; <font color=blue>tø khrómats</font>, the colors
***<font color=blue>tø khróma</font>, the color; <font color=blue>tø khrómats</font>, the colors
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|i=No| 1.
|i=No| 1.
|c=01| <font color=blue>ðíkmu</font>, my
|c=01| <font color=blue>ðíkmu</font>, my
|c=02| <font color=blue>ðíkmas</font>, our
|c=02| <font color=blue>ðíkmäs</font>, our
|-
|-
|i=No| 2.
|i=No| 2.
|c=01| <font color=blue>ðíksu</font>, your
|c=01| <font color=blue>ðíksu</font>, your
|c=02| <font color=blue>ðíksas</font>, your
|c=02| <font color=blue>ðíksäs</font>, your
|-
|-
|i=No| 3.
|i=No| 3.
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===Telling Time===
===Telling Time===
*The hour is put first followed by <font color=blue>ke</font>, plus, or <font color=blue>pará</font>, minus, and then the appropriate fraction or number of minutes, ''e.g.'',
*The hour is put first followed by <font color=blue>ke</font>, plus, or <font color=blue>pärá</font>, minus, and then the appropriate fraction or number of minutes, ''e.g.'',
**<font color=blue>Ti or in;</font> What time is it?
**<font color=blue>Ti or in;</font> What time is it?
**<font color=blue>Tris in</font>, It is three o'clock.
**<font color=blue>Tris in</font>, It is three o'clock.
**<font color=blue>I or tris ke tris lept in</font>, It is three minutes past three.
**<font color=blue>I or tris ke tris lept in</font>, It is three minutes past three.
**<font color=blue>Ti or in parakaló</font>, What time is it, please?
**<font color=blue>Ti or in päräkäló</font>, What time is it, please?
**<font color=blue>Tóra tris ke tétart in, </font>, Now it is a quartrer past three.
**<font color=blue>Tórä tris ke tétärt in, </font>, Now it is a quartrer past three.
**<font color=blue>Okhi, tris ke tétart ðen in, tris pará tétart in</font>, No, it is not quarter past three, it is quarter to three.
**<font color=blue>Okhi, tris ke tétärt ðen in, tris pärá tétärt in</font>, No, it is not quarter past three, it is quarter to three.
**<font color=blue>tóra pendé misi in</font>, It is half past five.
**<font color=blue>tórä pendé misi in</font>, It is half past five.
**<font color=blue>Ðóðeka pará pénde leptá</font>, It is five to twelve.
**<font color=blue>Ðóðekä pärá pénde leptá</font>, It is five to twelve.
**<font color=blue>Énteka ke pénde in</font>, It is five past eleven.
**<font color=blue>Éntekä ke pénde in</font>, It is five past eleven.
**<font color=blue>O Gián stin pénde irþ</font>, John came at five.
**<font color=blue>O Gián stin pénde irþ</font>, John came at five.
**<font color=blue>Ekató lept éni or ke saránda lept in</font>, A hundred minutes is one hour and forty minutes.
**<font color=blue>Ekätó lept éni or ke särándä lept in</font>, A hundred minutes is one hour and forty minutes.


===Verbs===
===Verbs===

Revision as of 10:38, 10 February 2009

  • Although Modern Greek is the official language of the Monastic Republic, the citizens have their own dialect.
  • It developed from their contact with their Turkish conquerors and shows some Turkish influence in grammar and vocabulary.
  • It is written with the Greek alphabet, but for ease I'm rendering it here in the Latin alphabet.

Orthography and Pronunciation

  • The name of the language is Athonite (Αþωνίτ).
  • A spelling reform has standardized the orthography so that it is more consistent with the pronunciation.
  • Double letters have been eliminated.
  • An acute accent is placed over the accented vowel.
Greek Latin Pronunciation
α a
ä
father when accented
but otherwise
αι e bed
αυ af before voiceless consonants
av otherwise
β v vine
γ g Sp. vagar
γγ ng sing
γκ g go
γξ nks lynx
γχ nkh new + Ger. ich
δ ð that
ε e bet
ει i feet
ɛυ ef before voiceless consonants
ev otherwise
ζ z zoo
η i feet
θ þ thin
ι i bee
κ k kin
λ l long
μ m mat
μπ b bat
ν n nap
ντ d dot
ξ x ax
ο ø awe
οι i feet
ου u boot
π p pit
ρ r Sp. pero
ς s zoo before voiceless consonants
sue otherwise
τ t tap
τζ dz reads
υ i bee
φ f fun
χ kh Ger. ich
ψ ps lips
ω o boat

Grammar

Nouns

  • Nouns are divided into three classes known as masculine, feminine, and neuter.
  • Masculine nouns are those preceded by the definite article ø, e.g., ø ánþrop, the man; ø pätér, the father. The indefinite article is en, e.g., en kíp, a garden.
  • Feminine nouns are those preceded by the definite article i, e.g., i pørt, the door; i ginék, the woman. The indefinite article is éni, e.g., én' istørí.
  • Neuter nouns are those preceded by the definite article , e.g., tø gräfí, the office; tø péð, the child. The indefinite article is énä, e.g., éna ðømáti.
  • The final vowel is elided when it is the same as the initial vowel of the word following, e.g., én' istrí; én' amáx.

The Genitive Case

  • The genitive case is indicated by a change in the form of the article.
  • The singular definite article:
    • ø þi, the uncle > tu þi, of the uncle
    • i þi, the aunt > tis þi, of the aunt
    • tø pøð, the foot > tu pøð, of the foot
  • The singular indefinite article:
    • en þi, an uncle > énos þi, of an uncle
    • éni þi, an aunt > énis þi, of an aunt
    • énä pøð, a foot > énäs pøð, of the foot
  • The plural definite article:
    • ø þis, the uncles > ton þis, of the uncles
    • i þis, the aunts > ton þis, of the aunts
    • tø pøðs, the feet > ton pøðs, of the feet
  • The plural indefinite article:
    • en þi, some uncles > énon þis, of some uncles
    • éni þi, some aunts > énon þis, of some aunts
    • énä pøð, some feet > énon pøðs, of some feet
  • The genitive case is used to express possession of appurtenance
    • T' ǿnøm tu pätér mu Vasíl in, the name of my father is Basil.
    • Ø äðélf mu en fil tu Giórgu in, my brother is a friend of George.
    • I pørt tu spít mu mávr in, the door of my house is black.

The Accusative Case

  • The accusative case is indicated by a change in the form of the article.
  • The singular definite article:
    • ø þi, the uncle > tøn þi, the uncle
    • i þi, the aunt > tin þi, the aunt
    • tø pøð, the foot > tøn pøð, the foot
  • The singular indefinite article:
    • en þi, an uncle > énøn þi, an uncle
    • éni þi, an aunt > énin þi, an aunt
    • énä pøð, a foot > énän pøð, the foot
  • The plural definite article:
    • ø þis, the uncles > ta þis, the uncles
    • i þis, the aunts > ta þis, the aunts
    • tø pøðs, the feet > ta pøðs, the feet
  • The plural indefinite article:
    • en þi, some uncles > énøn þis, some uncles
    • éni þi, some aunts > énin þis, some aunts
    • énä pøð, some feet > énän pøðs, some feet
  • The accusative case is used:
    • After the prepositions se, me, páno se, kontá se, mésä se, äpǿ, páno äpǿ, káto äpǿ, giá, etc.
    • As the direct object of verbs, e.g., Go énon ánþrop vlep, I see a man.

Adjectives

  • Adjectives precede the noun they modify.
    • ø käl ánþrop, the good man
    • i käl ginék, the good woman
    • tø käl péð, the good child
    • ø megál kip, the large garden
    • i megál pørt, the large door
    • tø megál ðomáti, the large room
  • The adjectives äft, 'this' and ekín, 'that' precede the definite article.
    • äft ø ánþrop, this man
    • äft ø kip, this garden
    • äft i ginék, this woman
    • äf' tø ped, this child
    • äf' tø ämáx, this cart
    • ekín ø ergát, that worker
    • ekín i nikht, that night
    • ekín tø ðomáti, that room
  • Negation is expressed by putting the negative particle ðen in front of the verb.
    • tø proín étim in, breakfast is ready.
    • tø proín étim ðen in, breakfast is not ready.
    • tø bar gemát ðen in, the bar is not full.
    • äft i pørt megál ðen in, this door is not big.

The Possessive Adjectives

singular plural
1. mu, my mäs, our
2. su, your säs, your
3. tu, his
tis, her
tu, its
tus, their
  • These adjectives are put after the nouns they modify. The nouns are preceded by the definite article.
    • tø spit, the house; tø spit mu, my house
    • ø fil, the friend; ø fil mu, my friend
    • tø kher mu, my hand
    • ø pätér su, your father
    • i mitér tis, her mother
    • ø kip mäs, our garden
    • ø kips mäs, our gardens
    • tø lept säs, your money
  • The possessive adjectives are enclitics. They have no accent of their own but add a syllable to the word, so that the accent of the preceding word is drawn to them.
    • t' ǿnøm, the name; t' ønǿm mu, my name
    • i ikøgéni, the family; i ikøgení mu, my family
  • When the nouns are preceded by an adjective the possessive adjective is put after the noun.
    • tø ämáx, the cart; tø kenúri ämáx, the new cart; tø kenúri ämáx mu, my new cart
    • ø käl fíl mäs, our good friend

Comparison of Adjectives

  • Adjectives form the comparative degree by placing the word piǿ in front them. They are then followed by apǿ and the accusative.
  • Piǿ is an enclitic and causes an accent on the following adjective if it doesn't already have one.
    • Ø Mikhál plúsi in, Michael is rich.
    • Ø äðélf mu piǿ dinát pǿ tø äðélf su in, my brother is stronger than your brother.
    • Ø Gián piø ftókh äpǿ tǿn Kóstäs in, John is poorer than Costas.
    • Af' to spit piø kál ap' ekín, This house is better than that one.
    • Af' to äftokínet polí pio khír äpǿ tøn áløn in, This automobile much worse than the other.
  • Adjectives form the superlative degree by using the definite article before the comparative form and the preposition se after it.
    • Ø André ø piø kál mäþít støn tax tu, Andrew is the best pupil in his class.
    • Ø pätér tis ø piø plúsi stin Äþín in, Her father is the richest man in Athens.
    • I Elén i piø oré ginék stin Elláð it, Helen was the most beautiful woman in Greece.

Plural

  • Nouns form their plurals by adding -s to the word.
  • -is is added if the noun ends in -s.
    • ø ánþrops, the men
    • ø ándris, the men
    • ø ergáts, the men
    • i ädélfs, the sisters
    • i mers, the days
    • i léxis, the words
    • i sképsis, the thoughts
    • tø tsigárs, the cigarettes
    • tø ämáxis, the carts
    • Irregular plurals:
      • tø khróma, the color; tø khrómats, the colors
      • tø fos, the light; tø fóts, the colors

The Possessive Pronouns

  • The personal possessive pronouns are formed by prefixing the adjective ðik to the possessive adjectives.
singular plural
1. ðíkmu, my ðíkmäs, our
2. ðíksu, your ðíksäs, your
3. ðíktu, his
ðíktis, her
ðíktu, its
ðíktus, their

Telling Time

  • The hour is put first followed by ke, plus, or pärá, minus, and then the appropriate fraction or number of minutes, e.g.,
    • Ti or in; What time is it?
    • Tris in, It is three o'clock.
    • I or tris ke tris lept in, It is three minutes past three.
    • Ti or in päräkäló, What time is it, please?
    • Tórä tris ke tétärt in, , Now it is a quartrer past three.
    • Okhi, tris ke tétärt ðen in, tris pärá tétärt in, No, it is not quarter past three, it is quarter to three.
    • tórä pendé misi in, It is half past five.
    • Ðóðekä pärá pénde leptá, It is five to twelve.
    • Éntekä ke pénde in, It is five past eleven.
    • O Gián stin pénde irþ, John came at five.
    • Ekätó lept éni or ke särándä lept in, A hundred minutes is one hour and forty minutes.

Verbs