Articles

Articles

There are two important articles, which will be mentioned here. They are the definite and indefinite articles. The definite articles translate into English as “the,” and the indefinite articles translate into English as “a” or “an.” In the nominative singular in the masculine gender the definite and indefinite articles are ‘λo” and “úno” respectively. The indefinite article doesn’t have any plural form.

DEFINITE ARTICLE

	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Singular
Nominative	λo	λa	λa
Accusative	λon	λan	λen
Dative	λom	λam	λem
Genitive	λoς	λaς	λeς
Predicative	λor	λar	λer
Vocative	-	-	-
Plural
Nominative	λoθ	λaθ	λeθ
Accusative	λoλ	λaλ	λeλ
Dative	λoχ	λaχ	λeχ
Genitive	λoφ	λaφ	λeφ
Predicative	λoj	λaj	λej
Vocative	-	-	-

INDEFINITE ARTICLE

	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Singular
Nominative	úno	úna	úna
Accusative	únon	únan	únen
Dative	únom	únam	únem
Genitive	únoς	únaς	úneς
Predicative	únor	únar	úner
Vocative	-	-	-

OMISSION OF THE INDEFINITE AND DEFINITE ARTICLES

In Meσoγεóiκa, the uses of articles are different from that of English. They are omitted
1) before a predicate, for example, "Λo Μáρκo θa eσσángo Iaτρór."-Mark is a doctor. Ιf the predicate is modified the article is expressed-"Λo Μáρκo θa eσσángο σπeκiáλer Iaτρór." -Mark is a special doctor.
2) with certain phrases-e.g. "Θa háβa Μoρén"-I have a child. If you put the article in, it will not mean "a" but "one."
3) after the conjunction “like” (κoμμé) and conjunctions of equal meaning- e.g. "Θa δúλeβe κομμé Σκýλo."-I work like a dog.
4) after "with," (aβéκ, κon) "without," (χoρís, síne) and "what." (κué)

SPECIAL USES OF THE DEFINITE ARTICLES

The definite articles are used more often than in English. Their usage is equivalent to Modern Greek

1) For general or abstract nouns

e.g.1-Λo Káno θa eσσángo Aniμáλor.-A dog is an animal.
e.g.2-Λa Λэβa θa eσσángo únar uρaníaκar Δýnaμir.-Love is a heavenly power.
e.g.3-Λo Βío θa eσσángo óμoρφar.-Life is beautiful.

2) Used with names. Each noun in Meσoγεóiκa is treated equally. Independent of the noun’s meaning, the situation of the noun is the deciding factor whether the definite article is used.

e.g.1-Λa Geρμánìa θa eσσángo únar gróssar Χóρar.-Germany is a big country.

3) Used instead of per/a and used to express quantity after price or speed

e.g.1-Dúaz Λíρaθ λa Цánτa-Two pounds per bag.
e.g.2-Θa eρχángo κuáττraθ Φoρáθ λan Wóχan.-He comes four times a week.
e.g.3-Κuaττρánτa Χiλioμéτρez λan Óρan-40km/hr

4) Not used with abstract nouns after with & without.

e.g.1-Κon Aμóρam θu βéne μo-I will come with love.

5) Used with school subjects and games.

e.g.1-Λa Γeoγρaφía θa eσσángo enτeρeσσánto-Geography is interesting.

6) Used in a number of set expressions where English would use indefinite or no article.