Lesson 4: First Declension Nouns
Feminine Nouns (ᾱ-Stems & η-Stems) + Prepositions
First Declension Battle Card
Feminine Nouns: ᾱ-Stems & η-Stems
NOM (Subject)GEN (Of)DAT (To/For)ACC (Object)VOC (Address)
1. Three Questions to Ask
- 1What ENDING does this noun have? (case signal)
- 2What CASE is it?
- NOM — Subject
- GEN — Of/From
- DAT — To/For/In
- ACC — Direct Object
- VOC — Direct Address
- 3What JOB does it do in the sentence?
2. Prepositions
Prepositions govern specific cases. Learn the case with the preposition!
εἰς
+ ACC
into, to
ἐκ(ἐξ)
+ GEN
out of, from
ἐν
+ DAT
in, on, among
ἐξ before vowels, ἐκ before consonants
How to Study With This
- •The article (ἡ, τῆς, etc.) reveals the case.
- •After ε, ι, ρ → use ᾱ endings.
- •Otherwise → use η endings.
- •Preposition + case = meaning.
Endings at a Glance
ᾱ-Stems
(after ε, ι, ρ)
| Sg | Pl | |
|---|---|---|
| NOM | -ᾱ | -αι |
| GEN | -ᾱς | -ῶν |
| DAT | -ᾳ | -αις |
| ACC | -ᾱν | -ᾱς |
| VOC | -ᾱ | -αι |
η-Stems
(elsewhere)
| Sg | Pl | |
|---|---|---|
| NOM | -η | -αι |
| GEN | -ης | -ῶν |
| DAT | -ῃ | -αις |
| ACC | -ην | -ᾱς |
| VOC | -η | -αι |
3. ᾱ-Stem: θεά (goddess)
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| NOM | θεά | θεαί |
| GEN | θεᾶς | θεῶν |
| DAT | θεᾷ | θεαῖς |
| ACC | θεάν | θεάς |
| VOC | θεά | θεαί |
4. η-Stem: σκηνή (tent)
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| NOM | σκηνή | σκηναί |
| GEN | σκηνῆς | σκηνῶν |
| DAT | σκηνῇ | σκηναῖς |
| ACC | σκηνήν | σκηνάς |
| VOC | σκηνή | σκηναί |
5. Feminine Article (ἡ)
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| NOM | ἡ | αἱ |
| GEN | τῆς | τῶν |
| DAT | τῇ | ταῖς |
| ACC | τήν | τάς |
The article reveals the case — learn it well!
6. Vocabulary
Verb
πέμπωsend
Nouns (ᾱ-Stems)
ἀγορά, -ᾶς, ἡmarketplace
θεά, -ᾶς, ἡgoddess
χώρᾱ, -ᾱς, ἡland, country
ἡσυχίᾱ, -ᾱς, ἡquiet, stillness
Nouns (η-Stems)
ἐπιστολή, -ῆς, ἡletter, message
σκηνή, -ῆς, ἡtent, stage
7. Noun Analysis Routine
- 1.Find the article — it reveals the case.
- 2.Check for prepositions — they dictate case.
- 3.Look at the noun ending.
- 4.Color by case: NOM / GEN / DAT / ACC
- 5.Translate by role, not word order.
8. Example Markup
τὰς ἐπιστολὰς τῶν θεῶν πέμπει εἰς τὴν χώρᾱν .
"She sends the letters of the goddesses into the country."
τὰς ἐπιστολὰς = ACC (direct obj.)τῶν θεῶν = GEN (of the goddesses)πέμπει = VERB (3rd sg.)εἰς + τὴν χώρᾱν = into + ACC