Adjectives

Greek adjectives agree with nouns in gender, number and case. In other words, the ending of the adjective changes depending on the noun it describes. As nouns can be one of three genders, adjectives also change ending according to the noun gender. The vocative and genitive cases are also used but not declined here.

Greek adjectives are grouped into different declensions according to their endings. The adjective class here with endings ος, -η, -ο is the most frequently used.

Adjectives. Consonant stems

The commonest type of adjective with consonant stems have the endings ος, -η, -ο (masculine, feminine and neuter). Some common examples are :-

first	πρώτος, -η, -ο
all	όλος, -η, -ο
good	καλος, καλη, καλο
big, large	μεγάλος, -η, ο
small	μικρός, -η, -ο
expensive	ακριβος, -η, -ο

This is declined here along an appropriate noun:-

'ο ναύτης' (the sailor)	Masculine
Nominative singular	ο καλος ναύτης
Accusative singular	τον καλο ναύτη
Nominative plural	οι καλοί ναύτες
Accusative plural	τους καλούς ναύτες

'η ταβέρνα' (the tavern)	Feminine
Nominative singular	ο καλη ταβέρνα
Accusative singular	την καλη ταβέρνα
Nominative plural	οι καλες ταβέρνες
Accusative plural	τις καλες ταβέρνες

'το ξενοδοχείο' (the hotel)	Neuter
Nominative singular	το καλο ξενοδοχείο
Accusative singular	το καλο ξενοδοχείο
Nominative plural	τα καλα ξενοδοχεία
Accusative plural	τα καλα ξενοδοχεία

Adjectives. Vowel stems

The commonest type of adjective with vowel stems has the endings ος, -α, -ο (masculine, feminine and neuter). Some common examples of Greek adjectives with vowel stems are :-

beautiful, nice	ωραίος, α, ο
beautiful, nice	ωραίος, ωραία, ωραίο
cold	κρύος, α, ο

This is declined here along an appropriate noun:-

'ο ναύτης' (the sailor)	Masculine
Nominative singular	ο ωραίος ναύτης
Accusative singular	τον ωραίό ναύτη
Nominative plural	οι ωραίοί ναύτες
Accusative plural	τους ωραίούς ναύτες

'η ταβέρνα' (the tavern)	Feminine
Nominative singular	ο ωραία ταβέρνα
Accusative singular	την ωραία ταβέρνα
Nominative plural	οι ωραίες ταβέρνες
Accusative plural	τις ωραίες ταβέρνες

'το ξενοδοχείο' (the hotel)	Neuter
Nominative singular	το ωραίο ξενοδοχείο
Accusative singular	το ωραίο ξενοδοχείο
Nominative plural	τα ωραία ξενοδοχεία
Accusative plural	τα ωραία ξενοδοχεία

Adjectives. Agreement examples

In Greek, adjectives agree with nouns in gender, number and case. A few examples in the nominative singular :-

the good hotel	το καλο ξενοδοχείο
a good restaurant	ένα καλο εστιατόριο
a good tavern	μια καλη ταβέρνα

'ταβέρνα'is a feminine noun and so 'καλη' has a feminine ending. 'ξενοδοχείο' is a neuter noun and so 'καλο' has a neuter ending.

the tavern is very large

η ταβέρνα είvαι πολύ μεγάλη

As 'η ταβέρνα' is feminine, 'μεγάλη' (large) has to use the feminine ending. The nominative is used after 'είvαι' (to be) so 'μεγάλη' has the nominative ending.