Language, grammar, syntax and vocabulary
What this domain tests
This domain tests control of Ancient Greek accidence and syntax: cases, moods, voices, principal parts, clause constructions and high-frequency vocabulary. Questions may ask you to parse a form, explain a construction, or choose the correct form in context. Accuracy and terminology matter.
Core rules
- Learn principal parts in families: λύω, λείπω, λαμβάνω, γίγνομαι, φέρω, ἵστημι, ἀφίημι.
- Know case functions: nominative subject or predicate; genitive possession, partitive, separation or absolute; dative indirect object, means, manner, locative or agent with the perfect passive; accusative object or extent.
- Control conditions: εἰ with indicative for simple conditions; ἐάν with subjunctive for future more vivid; εἰ with optative for future less vivid; εἰ with past indicative for contrary to fact.
- Distinguish indirect statement with ὅτι or ὡς plus finite verb from accusative-and-infinitive construction.
- Learn vocabulary with constructions: ἀκούω + genitive, πείθω + accusative and dative, χράομαι + dative.
Worked example
ἐὰν ταῦτα λέγῃς, ἁμαρτήσῃ.
ἐάν introduces a future more vivid condition and takes the subjunctive λέγῃς, second person singular present subjunctive active of λέγω. ταῦτα is neuter plural accusative, the object. The main clause has the future indicative ἁμαρτήσῃ, second person singular future middle of ἁμαρτάνω used with active meaning. Translate: “If you say these things, you will make a mistake.” Do not put “will” in the protasis.
Traps that cost marks
Confusing ἐάν with εἰ; using the subjunctive in the main clause; missing recessive accent and enclitic shifts; forgetting the augment; treating deponent verbs as passive; and translating a construction without naming it when the question asks for syntax.