The full case system
Four cases, two numbers: the full paradigms, the -ων genitive plural that moves the stress, and the vocative.
The four cases and their jobs
Nominative = subject. Genitive = possession (του πατέρα) and the colloquial indirect object (θα του πω). Accusative = object and after prepositions. Vocative = direct address. The ancient dative is gone — replaced by σε + accusative or the genitive.
Masculine paradigm: ο φίλος
The -ος masculine pattern, the richest in the system: four distinct forms in the singular.
| πτώση | ενικός | πληθυντικός |
|---|---|---|
| ονομαστική | ο φίλος | οι φίλοι |
| γενική | του φίλου | των φίλων |
| αιτιατική | τον φίλο | τους φίλους |
| κλητική | φίλε! | φίλοι! |
Feminine and neuter: η γυναίκα, το παιδί
The feminine singular distinguishes only through the article; the neuter always merges nominative, accusative and vocative — it really has just two forms per number.
| πτώση | η γυναίκα | το παιδί |
|---|---|---|
| ονομαστική | η γυναίκα / οι γυναίκες | το παιδί / τα παιδιά |
| γενική | της γυναίκας / των γυναικών | του παιδιού / των παιδιών |
| αιτιατική | τη γυναίκα / τις γυναίκες | το παιδί / τα παιδιά |
| κλητική | γυναίκα! / γυναίκες! | παιδί! / παιδιά! |
The genitive plural: -ων and the moving stress
Every gender ends in -ων in the genitive plural. In many feminines the stress moves towards the end: η θάλασσα → των θαλασσών, η γλώσσα → των γλωσσών. It is the legacy of the anciently accented -ῶν.
The vocative: Γιώργο! κύριε!
Only -ος masculines have their own form: -ε (κύριος → κύριε!) or -ο for most first names (Γιώργος → Γιώργο!). Every other noun uses the nominative form without the article: Μαρία! παιδιά!
Your turn
Choose the correct form.