That common Greek connectors:
Connect individual words as well as larger groups of words (phrases, clauses, sentences, paragraphs, etc.)
Usually start a sentence or clause
Are either coordinate connectors that connect words, clauses, sentences, and paragraphs at the same level
Or subordinate connectors which identify that one phrase or clause depends upon another
That Greek prepositions:
Take their objects in specific cases
Usually function as adverbs
That second pattern nouns:
Are usually masculine or neuter
Have ο-stems
Neuter nouns follow the same pattern as masculine nouns in the genitive and dative cases
Neuter nouns have the same form in the nominative, accusative, and vocative cases
How to translate a Greek text by using our five-step process
Clauses: Divide the text into clauses
One main verb in each clause
Not every clause has a verb (verbless clauses)
Use the connectors to help you
Pay attention to punctuation
Main Verb: Identify the main verb in the clause
Subject: Identify the verb’s subject
An explicit subject will be in the nominative case
Some verbs just have an implicit subject
Object: Identify the verb’s object or predicate nominative
Action verbs take a direct object (usually in the accusative case)
Being verbs take a predicate nominative
Some verbs do not need a direct object (like ἔρχομαι/Ι come)
Extras: Identify and diagram the remaining parts
A genitive noun should go with its head noun
Keep prepositional phrases together
The article should stay with the noun it describes (more about the article in Lesson 6)
We learned a lot in this lesson. If you feel overwhelmed right now, that is okay! Keep pressing on! This material will get easier as we practice it more and more during the course. I am praying right now that our God strengthens you.
Here is a brief quiz that will help you see how well you learned these concepts. If you find that you are struggling to answer certain questions, go back and review that information before moving on to the next lesson.