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Sachsen-Anhalt Abitur Ancient Greek study materials
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Sachsen-Anhalt Abitur Ancient Greek practice questions

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Question 1Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

How many letters does the classical Ionic-Attic Greek alphabet contain?

  1. 24 Correct answer.
  2. 22
  3. 26
  4. 27

Explanation

The classical Ionic-Attic alphabet, officially adopted at Athens in 403/402 BC, has 24 letters, running from ἄλφα (Α α) to ὦ μέγα (Ω ω). Learning it in Laut und Schrift (majuscule and minuscule) is the first requirement of the Sachsen-Anhalt Fachlehrplan Griechisch.

Question 2Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What does the spiritus asper (rough breathing) over the initial vowel of ἡμέρα indicate?

  1. An [h] sound is pronounced before the vowel Correct answer.
  2. The vowel is long
  3. The word carries the accent on that syllable
  4. The vowel is elided before a following word

Explanation

The spiritus asper (῾) marks an initial aspiration, i.e. an [h] pronounced before the vowel: ἡμέρα = 'hēmera' (day). Its counterpart, the spiritus lenis (᾿), marks the absence of that aspiration, as in ἀνήρ. Every word-initial vowel and every initial ρ must carry one of the two breathings.

Question 3Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

In the dative singular form τῇ χώρᾳ, what is the small iota written beneath the final vowel called, and what is its function?

  1. Iota subscriptum - it is the remnant of an old long diphthong and marks the dative singular of the a- and o-declensions Correct answer.
  2. Iota adscriptum - it is a purely decorative scribal flourish with no grammatical value
  3. Iota subscriptum - it marks the vocative case in feminine nouns
  4. Iota subscriptum - it indicates that the preceding vowel is short

Explanation

The iota subscriptum (ᾳ, ῃ, ῳ) is the written survival of a long diphthong (ᾱι, ηι, ωι) that ceased to be pronounced as a diphthong in the classical period. It is grammatically decisive: it is the regular mark of the dative singular in the a-declension (τῇ χώρᾳ), the o-declension (τῷ λόγῳ) and the feminine article τῇ.

Question 4Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

Why is the accent of ἄνθρωπος an acute on the antepenultimate syllable, whereas the genitive singular is written ἀνθρώπου?

  1. An acute may stand on the antepenult only when the final syllable is short; the long ending -ου forces the accent forward onto the penult Correct answer.
  2. The genitive always shifts its accent one syllable to the right in every Greek noun
  3. The circumflex of the nominative is replaced by an acute in the oblique cases
  4. Compound nouns lose their recessive accent in the genitive

Explanation

Greek accentuation obeys the law of limitation: the acute can stand on the third syllable from the end only if the final syllable is short. In ἄνθρωπος the ending -ος is short, so ἄν- may be accented; in ἀνθρώπου the diphthong -ου is long, so the accent can go back no further than the penult, giving ἀνθρώπου.

Question 5Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the genitive singular of ὁ λόγος (word, speech, reason)?

  1. τοῦ λόγου Correct answer.
  2. τοῦ λόγος
  3. τῷ λόγῳ
  4. τὸν λόγον

Explanation

λόγος is a masculine o-declension (second declension) noun: nom. ὁ λόγος, gen. τοῦ λόγου, dat. τῷ λόγῳ, acc. τὸν λόγον, voc. ὦ λόγε. The genitive singular ending of the o-declension is -ου, matched by the genitive of the article τοῦ.

Question 6Ancient Greek reading and translation

The Iliad opens: Μῆνιν ἄειδε, θεά, Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος. What is the grammatical function of the very first word, μῆνιν?

  1. It is the accusative singular direct object of the imperative ἄειδε: 'Sing, goddess, the WRATH ...' Correct answer.
  2. It is the subject of the sentence, in the nominative
  3. It is a vocative, addressing the wrath directly
  4. It is a genitive modifying θεά

Explanation

μῆνιν is the accusative singular of μῆνις ('wrath, anger'), placed in the emphatic first position of the entire epic as the direct object of the imperative ἄειδε ('sing!'): 'Sing, O goddess, the wrath of Peleus's son Achilles.' The Iliad's opening word announces its central theme, Achilles's destructive anger.

Question 7Ancient Greek reading and translation

In the same Iliad opening, Πηληϊάδεω Ἀχιλῆος ('of Peleus's son Achilles') stands after μῆνιν. What case are these words, and what is their function?

  1. Genitive: they depend on μῆνιν as a possessive/subjective genitive, 'the wrath BELONGING TO / FELT BY Achilles' Correct answer.
  2. Dative: they mark the person to whom the wrath is given
  3. Accusative, in agreement with μῆνιν
  4. Nominative, as a second subject alongside θεά

Explanation

Πηληϊάδεω (epic genitive of Πηληϊάδης, 'son of Peleus') and Ἀχιλῆος (epic genitive of Ἀχιλλεύς) are both genitive, depending on μῆνιν to specify whose wrath is meant: 'the wrath of Achilles, son of Peleus'. Since Achilles is the one who feels the anger, this is a genitivus subiectivus.

Question 8Ancient Greek reading and translation

In Plato's Apology, Socrates famously declares: ὁ δὲ ἀνεξέταστος βίος οὐ βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ. Which English translation best captures this line?

  1. 'The unexamined life is not worth living for a human being' Correct answer.
  2. 'The unexamined life cannot be found by any human being'
  3. 'An examined life is dangerous for a human being'
  4. 'Life without inquiry is impossible for a human being'

Explanation

ἀνεξέταστος ('unexamined', from the alpha-privative plus ἐξετάζω, 'examine, cross-examine') modifies βίος ('life'); βιωτός is the verbal adjective of possibility from βιόω ('live'), 'able to be lived / worth living'; ἀνθρώπῳ is dative. Literally: 'the unexamined life [is] not liveable/worth-living for a human being' - one of the most famous single sentences to survive from Socratic philosophy.

Question 9Ancient Greek reading and translation

In οὐ βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ, the verbal adjective βιωτός is combined with the dative ἀνθρώπῳ rather than a genitive or accusative. What role does this dative play?

  1. A dative of reference/interest: it names the person FOR WHOM the judgement ('not worth living') holds true Correct answer.
  2. A dative of instrument, showing the human being as a tool
  3. A dative marking direct possession of the verbal adjective
  4. An error; Plato's text is often misquoted with an incorrect case here

Explanation

Verbal adjectives in -τος expressing possibility or fitness regularly take a dative naming the person concerned or for whose sake the quality applies - a dative of reference/interest: βιωτὸς ἀνθρώπῳ, 'liveable/worth-living FOR a human being'. This is a standard, well-attested Greek construction, not an anomaly.

Question 10Ancient Greek reading and translation

Herodotus opens his work: Ἡροδότου Ἁλικαρνησσέος ἱστορίης ἀπόδεξις ἥδε ('This is the publication of the ἱστορίη of Herodotus of Halicarnassus'). What does the Ionic word ἱστορίη mean here, and why is it significant?

  1. 'Inquiry, research, investigation' - the direct root of the English word 'history', marking Herodotus's self-conscious presentation of his work as systematic research rather than myth or poetry Correct answer.
  2. 'Battle, war' - describing the Persian Wars directly
  3. 'Prophecy', linking Herodotus's project to the Delphic oracle
  4. 'Genealogy of the gods', linking his work to Hesiod's Theogony

Explanation

ἱστορίη (Ionic form; Attic ἱστορία) means 'inquiry, investigation, research' - Herodotus uses it to frame his project as a systematic gathering and evaluation of information, distinguishing his prose 'inquiry' from the poetic mythological tradition of Homer and Hesiod. The word is the direct ancestor of the English 'history', reflecting Herodotus's traditional title 'Father of History'.

Question 11Ancient Greek lexicon and derivatives

The noun ἡ ἀρετή is best translated as:

  1. vice
  2. excellence, virtue Correct answer.
  3. wealth
  4. bodily strength

Explanation

ἀρετή means excellence of any kind - moral virtue, courage, skill, or quality. In Plato's Protagoras the central question is precisely whether ἀρετή can be taught, so this word is foundational for the set text.

Question 12Ancient Greek lexicon and derivatives

The noun ὁ δῆμος in classical Attic usage means:

  1. the people (especially the citizen body) Correct answer.
  2. the city wall
  3. the written law
  4. the council chamber

Explanation

δῆμος means the people - in Athens specifically the citizen body that held power under democracy (hence δημοκρατία, 'rule of the people'). It can also mean a deme, the local district of Attica.

Question 13Ancient Greek lexicon and derivatives

The noun ἡ ἐλευθερία means:

  1. equality before the law
  2. justice
  3. peace
  4. freedom Correct answer.

Explanation

ἐλευθερία is freedom, both political and personal, from the adjective ἐλεύθερος ('free'). Pericles' Funeral Oration celebrates Athenian ἐλευθερία as a hallmark of the democracy.

Question 14Ancient Greek lexicon and derivatives

The noun ἡ ψυχή most commonly means:

  1. the body
  2. the intellect only
  3. the soul, life-spirit Correct answer.
  4. fate

Explanation

ψυχή is the soul or life-spirit - what leaves the body at death and what moral philosophy cares for. In Plato it is the seat of character and the thing Socrates urges the Athenians to tend (ἐπιμέλεια τῆς ψυχῆς).

Question 15Ancient Greek lexicon and derivatives

In fifth-century Athens, a σοφιστής was:

  1. a professional teacher who taught rhetoric and excellence for pay Correct answer.
  2. a philosopher who wrote Socratic dialogues
  3. an elected general
  4. a priest of the civic cults

Explanation

The sophists, such as Protagoras and Gorgias, were travelling professional educators who charged fees to teach rhetoric, politics, and ἀρετή. Plato's Protagoras dramatises exactly this figure visiting Callias' house in Athens.

Question 16Greek literature, rhetoric and interpretation

πολλὰ μὲν εἶπεν, πολλὰ δὲ ἔπραξεν ('he said many things, and did many things') repeats πολλά at the start of both clauses. What is this stylistic device called?

  1. Anapher (anaphora): the repetition of the same word at the beginning of successive clauses or phrases for emphasis Correct answer.
  2. Chiasmus: a crossing ABBA word order
  3. Ellipse: the omission of an expected word
  4. Hyperbaton: an unusual separation of grammatically connected words

Explanation

Anaphora repeats the same word or phrase at the start of successive clauses to create emphasis and rhythmic parallelism: πολλὰ μὲν εἶπεν, πολλὰ δὲ ἔπραξεν, 'many things he said, many things he did' - the doubled πολλά underscores the sheer quantity of both words and deeds.

Question 17Greek literature, rhetoric and interpretation

ὁ στρατηγὸς σοφός, ἄδικος δὲ ὁ ῥήτωρ ('the general [is] wise, but unjust [is] the orator') arranges noun-adjective in the first clause and adjective-noun in the second. What is this crossing word-order pattern called?

  1. Chiasmus: an ABBA arrangement of corresponding elements across two parallel phrases Correct answer.
  2. Anaphora: repetition of the same opening word
  3. Asyndeton: the omission of connecting particles
  4. Litotes: understatement through denying the opposite

Explanation

Chiasmus arranges corresponding elements in a crossing, ABBA pattern (named after the shape of the Greek letter chi, Χ): here noun-adjective (στρατηγὸς σοφός = A-B) is followed by adjective-noun (ἄδικος ὁ ῥήτωρ = B-A), creating a mirrored, balanced structure that highlights the contrast between the two figures.

Question 18Greek literature, rhetoric and interpretation

A speaker declares: λόγῳ μὲν φίλος, ἔργῳ δὲ πολέμιος ('in word a friend, but in deed an enemy'), sharply opposing λόγος ('word') and ἔργον ('deed') in parallel clauses. What is this stylistic device called, and what rhetorical effect does it create?

  1. Antithese (antithesis): the deliberate juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in parallel grammatical structure, exposing a gap between appearance and reality - a favourite device of Greek rhetoric and sophistic argument Correct answer.
  2. Metonymy: referring to something by the name of something closely associated with it
  3. Onomatopoeia: a word that imitates a sound
  4. Zeugma: one verb governing two grammatically incompatible objects

Explanation

Antithesis sets two contrasting ideas against each other in matching grammatical structures to sharpen a distinction - here between λόγος (word, claim, appearance) and ἔργον (deed, actual conduct), a contrast pervasive in Greek political and forensic rhetoric, and directly relevant to the Fachlehrplan's Kurshalbjahr on Rhetorik und Sophistik, where appearance versus reality is a central theme.

Question 19Greek literature, rhetoric and interpretation

λέγει, γράφει, πράττει ('he speaks, he writes, he acts') presents three short, parallel clauses in a row with no connecting conjunction. What is this three-part structure called?

  1. Trikolon: a rhetorical grouping of three parallel elements, often building to a climax Correct answer.
  2. Dikolon: a grouping of exactly two parallel elements
  3. Hendiadys: the expression of one idea through two connected words
  4. Enjambment: the run-on of a sentence across a line-break in verse

Explanation

A trikolon groups three parallel words, phrases or clauses of similar length and structure, often producing a rhythmic build-up or sense of climax: λέγει, γράφει, πράττει, 'he speaks, he writes, he acts' - three short, asyndetic (unconnected) verbs in a row that intensify one another. The device is named explicitly among the erhöhtes-Anforderungsniveau Stilmittel in the Fachlehrplan.

Question 20Ancient Greek history, society and reception

Where in the Greek world were the ancient Olympic Games held, and how often?

  1. At Olympia in the Peloponnese, every four years (an Olympiad) Correct answer.
  2. At Delphi, every year
  3. In Athens, every two years
  4. On Crete, only once a generation

Explanation

The Olympic Games were held at the sanctuary of Zeus at Olympia in the Peloponnese every four years; the four-year interval itself gave its name to the unit of time, the Olympiad, later used by Greek historians for dating events. A sacred truce (ekecheiria) was proclaimed so athletes and spectators could travel safely.

Question 21Ancient Greek history, society and reception

The Große Dionysien (City Dionysia), the Athenian festival at which tragedies and comedies were performed in competition, honoured which god?

  1. Dionysos, god of wine, festivity and theatre Correct answer.
  2. Apollo, god of prophecy and the arts
  3. Athena, patron goddess of Athens
  4. Zeus, king of the gods

Explanation

The City Dionysia was the great annual Athenian festival of the god Dionysos, held in his theatre on the south slope of the Acropolis. It was the principal venue at which tragedies and comedies were staged and judged in dramatic competitions, making Greek theatre inseparable from religious festival culture.

Question 22Ancient Greek history, society and reception

Among the twelve Olympian gods, who was worshipped as the god of the sea, earthquakes and horses?

  1. Poseidon Correct answer.
  2. Hades
  3. Hermes
  4. Ares

Explanation

Poseidon, brother of Zeus, ruled the sea and was also associated with earthquakes (as 'Earth-Shaker', Ἐνοσίχθων) and with horses, and he received cult in coastal and maritime contexts across the Greek world.

Question 23Ancient Greek history, society and reception

Herakles was famously forced to perform a set of extraordinary tasks imposed on him by King Eurystheus. What is this cycle of tasks called?

  1. The Twelve Labours (Zwölf Arbeiten) of Herakles Correct answer.
  2. The Ten Trials of Odysseus
  3. The Seven Against Thebes
  4. The Labyrinth of the Minotaur

Explanation

As penance imposed by Eurystheus, Herakles carried out twelve extraordinary labours, including slaying the Nemean lion, capturing the Cretan bull, and cleaning the Augean stables. This cycle became one of the most widely depicted mythological narratives in Greek art and literature.

Question 24Ancient Greek history, society and reception

Which maxim was famously inscribed at the sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi, home of the oracle and the priestess known as the Pythia?

  1. γνῶθι σεαυτόν - 'Know thyself' Correct answer.
  2. πάντα ῥεῖ - 'Everything flows'
  3. ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα - 'I know one thing, that I know nothing'
  4. ἄνθρωπος μέτρον πάντων - 'Man is the measure of all things'

Explanation

γνῶθι σεαυτόν ('know thyself') was one of the maxims traditionally said to be inscribed in the forecourt of Apollo's temple at Delphi, seat of the most famous oracle in the Greek world, where the Pythia delivered Apollo's prophecies in a trance.

Question 25Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the nominative and accusative plural of the neuter noun τὸ δῶρον (gift)?

  1. τὰ δῶρα for both nominative and accusative Correct answer.
  2. οἱ δῶροι for the nominative, τοὺς δώρους for the accusative
  3. τὰ δῶρα for the nominative, τὰς δώρας for the accusative
  4. τὰ δώρων for both nominative and accusative

Explanation

In all Greek neuters the nominative, accusative and vocative are identical in each number, and the plural of these three cases always ends in -α. So τὸ δῶρον gives τὰ δῶρα for both nominative and accusative plural.

Question 26Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the genitive singular of ὁ πολίτης (citizen)?

  1. τοῦ πολίτου Correct answer.
  2. τοῦ πολίτης
  3. τῆς πολίτης
  4. τοῦ πολίτος

Explanation

πολίτης is a masculine noun of the a-declension (first declension). Masculines of this class take the nominative in -ης, but borrow the genitive singular ending -ου from the o-declension: ὁ πολίτης, τοῦ πολίτου, τῷ πολίτῃ, τὸν πολίτην, ὦ πολῖτα.

Question 27Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

Which form is the genitive singular of ἡ γλῶττα (tongue, language)?

  1. τῆς γλώττης Correct answer.
  2. τῆς γλώττας
  3. τοῦ γλώττου
  4. τῇ γλώττῃ

Explanation

In the a-declension, a feminine whose nominative ends in -α after a consonant other than ε, ι or ρ has an 'alpha impurum': the α changes to η in the genitive and dative singular. Hence ἡ γλῶττα, τῆς γλώττης, τῇ γλώττῃ, τὴν γλῶτταν.

Question 28Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

The genitive singular of τὸ σῶμα (body) is τοῦ σώματος. What does this reveal about the noun's stem?

  1. It is a third-declension neuter with a dental stem σωματ-, visible once the genitive ending -ος is removed Correct answer.
  2. It is an o-declension neuter whose stem is σωμ-
  3. It is an a-declension noun whose stem is σωματο-
  4. It is a third-declension masculine with a stem in -ς

Explanation

Third-declension nouns must be learned from the genitive, because the nominative often obscures the stem. σῶμα, σώματος shows the stem σωματ- (a dental stem); the final -τ was lost in the bare nominative. From this stem come dat. sg. σώματι, nom./acc. pl. σώματα, gen. pl. σωμάτων and dat. pl. σώμασι(ν), where -τσ- simplified to -σ-.

Question 29Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the genitive singular of ἡ πόλις (city, city-state)?

  1. τῆς πόλεως Correct answer.
  2. τῆς πόλιος
  3. τῆς πόλης
  4. τῆς πολίτου

Explanation

πόλις belongs to the third-declension i-stems, which in Attic show quantitative metathesis: the older *πόληος became πόλεως, with the quantities exchanged. Its full singular is ἡ πόλις, τῆς πόλεως, τῇ πόλει, τὴν πόλιν; plural αἱ πόλεις, τῶν πόλεων, ταῖς πόλεσι(ν), τὰς πόλεις.

Question 30Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the dative plural of ὁ/ἡ παῖς, παιδός (child, boy, girl)?

  1. τοῖς παισί(ν) Correct answer.
  2. τοῖς παίδοις
  3. τοῖς παιδσί(ν)
  4. τῶν παίδων

Explanation

The third-declension dative plural ending is -σι(ν), added to the stem. With the dental stem παιδ-, the sequence -δσ- is inadmissible in Greek, so the dental drops out with compensatory simplification: παιδ- + -σι → παισί(ν). The same process gives ἐλπίς → ἐλπίσι(ν) and σῶμα → σώμασι(ν).

Question 31Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the dative singular of ὁ βασιλεύς (king)?

  1. τῷ βασιλεῖ Correct answer.
  2. τῷ βασιλεύῳ
  3. τῷ βασιλέᾳ
  4. τοῦ βασιλέως

Explanation

βασιλεύς is a third-declension noun of the -ευ- stem class. After the loss of the old digamma the stem appears as βασιλε- before endings, and the dative singular contracts to βασιλεῖ. The full singular is ὁ βασιλεύς, τοῦ βασιλέως, τῷ βασιλεῖ, τὸν βασιλέα.

Question 32Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the accusative singular of ὁ ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός (man, husband)?

  1. τὸν ἄνδρα Correct answer.
  2. τὸν ἀνήρα
  3. τὸν ἀνέρα
  4. τὸν ἄνδραν

Explanation

ἀνήρ is a syncopated stem: the stem vowel drops out in most cases (ἀνρ-), and Greek inserts a δ to make the resulting cluster pronounceable, giving ἀνδρ-. The third-declension accusative singular ending -α produces τὸν ἄνδρα. Full singular: ἀνήρ, ἀνδρός, ἀνδρί, ἄνδρα, ὦ ἄνερ.

Question 33Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What are the comparative and superlative of the adjective σοφός (wise)?

  1. σοφώτερος, σοφώτατος Correct answer.
  2. σοφότερος, σοφότατος
  3. σοφίων, σόφιστος
  4. μᾶλλον σοφός, μάλιστα σοφός only - σοφός has no synthetic comparison

Explanation

The regular comparison suffixes are -τερος and -τατος, added to the adjective stem. When the syllable before the ending is short, the linking ο is lengthened to ω: σοφ-ό-ς → σοφώτερος, σοφώτατος. Compare δίκαιος → δικαιότερος, δικαιότατος, where the preceding syllable -και- is long and the ο therefore stays short.

Question 34Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

Which pair gives the standard Attic comparative and superlative of ἀγαθός (good)?

  1. ἀμείνων / ἄριστος (alongside βελτίων / βέλτιστος and κρείττων / κράτιστος) Correct answer.
  2. ἀγαθώτερος / ἀγαθώτατος
  3. χείρων / χείριστος
  4. μείζων / μέγιστος

Explanation

ἀγαθός is compared suppletively, i.e. from different roots. Attic offers several sets with slightly different nuances: ἀμείνων/ἄριστος (excellence in general, and in Homer martial excellence), βελτίων/βέλτιστος (moral goodness), κρείττων/κράτιστος (superiority in power or strength). All are comparatives of ἀγαθός.

Question 35Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

The adjective ἀληθής, ἀληθές (true) is a two-ending third-declension adjective. What is its genitive singular (masculine/feminine/neuter alike)?

  1. ἀληθοῦς Correct answer.
  2. ἀληθέος
  3. ἀληθοῦ
  4. ἀληθῆς

Explanation

ἀληθής is an s-stem (ἀληθεσ-). Between vowels the σ dropped out and the resulting vowels contracted: ἀληθέσ-ος → ἀληθέος → ἀληθοῦς. The same contraction produces dat. ἀληθεῖ, acc. ἀληθῆ, nom. pl. ἀληθεῖς and neuter pl. ἀληθῆ.

Question 36Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the third person plural present indicative active of λύω (I loose, release)?

  1. λύουσι(ν) Correct answer.
  2. λύονται
  3. λύωσι(ν)
  4. ἔλυον

Explanation

The present indicative active of λύω runs λύω, λύεις, λύει, λύομεν, λύετε, λύουσι(ν). The third plural ending -ουσι(ν) arose from -οντι via -ονσι with compensatory lengthening of the ο to ου.

Question 37Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

The imperfect of ἀκούω (I hear) is ἤκουον. What is the initial ἠ- called and what does it show?

  1. A temporal augment - the initial α of the present has been lengthened to η to mark a past tense of the indicative Correct answer.
  2. A reduplication - it marks the perfect stem
  3. A syllabic augment - an ἐ- has been prefixed to the stem
  4. A thematic vowel - it links the ending to the stem

Explanation

Past tenses of the indicative are marked by an augment. Verbs beginning with a consonant take the syllabic augment ἐ- (λύω → ἔλυον); verbs beginning with a vowel lengthen it instead, which is the temporal augment: ἀ → η in ἀκούω → ἤκουον, and likewise ἄγω → ἦγον, ἐλπίζω → ἤλπιζον, ὁρίζω → ὥριζον.

Question 38Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

Which form is the third person singular aorist indicative passive of λύω?

  1. ἐλύθη Correct answer.
  2. ἔλυσε(ν)
  3. ἐλύσατο
  4. λέλυται

Explanation

The weak (first) aorist passive is built with the marker -θη- added to the verb stem, plus the augment and active-type secondary endings: ἐλύθην, ἐλύθης, ἐλύθη, ἐλύθημεν, ἐλύθητε, ἐλύθησαν. So ἐλύθη = 'he/she/it was loosed'.

Question 39Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

In the perfect λέλυκα, what is the function of the initial λε-?

  1. Reduplication - repeating the initial consonant plus ε, it is the characteristic marker of the perfect stem Correct answer.
  2. It is the augment marking a past tense
  3. It is a prefix meaning 'completely'
  4. It marks the middle voice

Explanation

The perfect stem is formed by reduplication: the initial consonant is repeated with the vowel ε (λύω → λέ-λυ-κα, γράφω → γέ-γραφ-α, παιδεύω → πε-παίδευ-κα). Aspirated initials reduplicate with the corresponding unaspirated stop (θύω → τέθυκα, φιλέω → πεφίληκα).

Question 40Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the first person singular future active indicative of λύω (I loose, release)?

  1. λύσω Correct answer.
  2. λύω
  3. ἔλυσα
  4. λελύκω

Explanation

The future active is formed by adding the tense marker -σ- to the verb stem, followed by the thematic vowel and personal endings: λύ- + -σ- + -ω → λύσω, 'I shall loose'. The full future active runs λύσω, λύσεις, λύσει, λύσομεν, λύσετε, λύσουσι(ν).

Question 41Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

νομίζω (I think, believe, hold as custom) forms its future not as the expected νομίσω but as νομιῶ. What is this contracted future form called?

  1. The Attic future (attisches Futur) Correct answer.
  2. The middle future
  3. The root aorist
  4. The gnomic future

Explanation

A number of polysyllabic verbs in -ίζω lose the tense-marking σ between vowels and contract the remaining vowels, producing a future that looks exactly like a liquid-verb future: νομίζω → νομιῶ, κομίζω → κομιῶ, ἐλπίζω → ἐλπιῶ. Because this contraction is characteristic of Attic prose, it is called the 'Attic future'.

Question 42Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the first person singular aorist indicative active of βαίνω (I go, walk, step), and what type of aorist formation does it show?

  1. ἔβην - a root aorist, with personal endings added directly to the bare root without a thematic vowel or -σ- Correct answer.
  2. ἔβησα - a sigmatic (weak) aorist
  3. ἔβαινον - a root aorist
  4. βέβηκα - a root aorist

Explanation

βαίνω belongs to a small class of verbs that form their aorist directly on the bare root, with no thematic vowel and no -σ-: ἔ-βη-ν, ἔ-βη-ς, ἔ-βη, ἔ-βη-μεν, ἔ-βη-τε, ἔ-βη-σαν. This is called the root aorist (Wurzelaorist); γιγνώσκω → ἔγνων and δίδωμι's ἔδο- forms behave the same way.

Question 43Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the nominative singular masculine of the present active participle of λύω?

  1. λύων Correct answer.
  2. λύσας
  3. λελυκώς
  4. λυόμενος

Explanation

The present active participle is built on the present stem with the suffix -οντ- (masc./neut.) or -ουσ- (fem.): λύ-ων (masc.), λύ-ουσα (fem.), λῦ-ον (neut.), meaning 'loosing' or 'while loosing'. It denotes an action happening at the same time as the main verb.

Question 44Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

In the sentence ταῦτα εἰπὼν ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀπῆλθεν ('having said this, the man went away'), what does the aorist participle εἰπών express in relation to ἀπῆλθεν?

  1. An action completed before the action of the main verb (antecedent time) Correct answer.
  2. An action happening at exactly the same moment as the main verb
  3. An action that will happen after the main verb
  4. A hypothetical action that never actually took place

Explanation

An aorist participle attached to a main verb normally denotes an action that took place before the action of the main verb: 'having said this' (first) 'he went away' (then). This is the standard antecedent, not simultaneous, force of the aorist participle in Greek narrative prose.

Question 45Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

οἱ στρατιῶται ἦλθον τὴν πόλιν σώσοντες. What function does the future participle σώσοντες perform here?

  1. It expresses purpose: 'the soldiers came in order to save the city' Correct answer.
  2. It expresses an action simultaneous with ἦλθον
  3. It expresses an action completed before ἦλθον
  4. It functions as the main verb of the sentence

Explanation

A future participle, especially after a verb of motion, regularly expresses purpose: ἦλθον ... σώσοντες = 'they came ... in order to save' (equivalent to a ἵνα-clause with future reference). This is a distinct, well-recognised use of the future participle beyond its basic 'going to' meaning.

Question 46Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

νοσῶν ὁ στρατηγὸς οὐκ ἐμαχέσατο can be translated 'Since/because he was ill, the general did not fight' or 'Although he was ill, the general did not fight'. Why is the circumstantial participle νοσῶν ambiguous between these readings?

  1. A circumstantial (adverbial) participle does not itself mark whether its relationship to the main clause is causal, temporal or concessive - that must be inferred from context, unless a particle such as ὥσπερ or καίπερ is added Correct answer.
  2. νοσῶν is a substantivised participle and therefore has no adverbial relationship to the main clause at all
  3. The ambiguity shows that νοσῶν must actually be a genitive absolute
  4. Greek circumstantial participles are always concessive and never causal

Explanation

A bare circumstantial participle in Greek is grammatically unmarked for its logical relationship (time, cause, condition, concession, means, purpose) to the main verb; readers must supply the right nuance from sense and context. Writers can disambiguate by adding ὡς (alleged reason), ἅτε (real reason), or καίπερ (concession).

Question 47Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the first person plural present subjunctive active of λύω, and what does it typically express as a main-clause form?

  1. λύωμεν - a hortatory subjunctive, 'let us loose' Correct answer.
  2. λύομεν - a statement, 'we loose'
  3. λύοιμεν - a wish, 'may we loose'
  4. ἐλύομεν - 'we were loosing'

Explanation

The subjunctive uses the long thematic vowels η/ω throughout: λύω, λύῃς, λύῃ, λύωμεν, λύητε, λύωσι(ν). Used independently in the first person plural, it forms the hortatory subjunctive, an exhortation: λύωμεν = 'let us loose'.

Question 48Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the third person singular present optative active of λύω, and which mood marker identifies it as an optative?

  1. λύοι - the mood marker -οι- inserted between the stem and the ending Correct answer.
  2. λύῃ - the mood marker -ῃ-
  3. λύει - no special mood marker; -ει is simply the indicative ending
  4. λύσοι - the mood marker -σοι-

Explanation

The optative is signalled by the mood suffix -ι- combined with the thematic vowel (giving -οι- in the present of thematic verbs): λύ-οι-μι, λύ-οι-ς, λύ-οι, λύ-οι-μεν, λύ-οι-τε, λύ-οι-εν. As a main-clause form it expresses a wish ('may he loose') or, with ἄν, a potential ('he would loose').

Question 49Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

ἠρώτησεν ὅ τι πράττοιεν ('he asked what they were doing') stands beside the more direct ἐρωτᾷ ὅ τι πράττουσιν ('he asks what they are doing'). Why does the subordinate verb shift from indicative πράττουσιν to optative πράττοιεν once the main verb becomes past tense (ἠρώτησεν)?

  1. This is the optativus obliquus (oblique/'assimilated' optative): after a main verb in a secondary (past) tense, a verb in a dependent clause may optionally shift into the optative to signal that the report is filtered through someone else's past perspective Correct answer.
  2. πράττοιεν is a scribal error; only πράττον would be grammatical after a past-tense main verb
  3. The subjunctive is required after any past-tense main verb, and πράττοιεν is in fact a subjunctive form
  4. The shift shows that the subordinate clause has become a genitive absolute

Explanation

After historical (secondary) main tenses, Greek allows - but does not require - a dependent clause originally in the indicative or subjunctive to be reworded in the corresponding optative, a phenomenon called the oblique optative. It marks the content as reported from a past standpoint; retaining the original indicative (πράττουσιν) is also grammatical and equally common.

Question 50Ancient Greek morphology and syntax

What is the second person singular perfect middle/passive indicative of λύω?

  1. λέλυσαι Correct answer.
  2. λέλυκας
  3. ἐλύθης
  4. λύῃ

Explanation

The perfect middle/passive is built on the reduplicated perfect stem with primary middle/passive endings added directly, without a linking vowel: λέλυμαι, λέλυσαι, λέλυται, λελύμεθα, λέλυσθε, λέλυνται. λέλυσαι = 'you have been loosed / you are in a loosed state'.