Further Adjective Declensions

Third Declension Adjectives in -ής, -ές

The adjectives ἀληθής, ἀληθές (‘true’) and ψευδής, ψευδές (‘false’) illustrate a common variation on third-declension adjective patterns. For both of these adjectives, the stem ends in an epsilon, which contracts with the ending when the ending begins with a vowel. (Historically, the adjective stem ended with a sigma, but this dropped out between vowels.) Again, if you recall patterns you have seen in epsilon contract verbs, you’ll recognize the regular pattern beneath these surface forms: the genitive forms come frοm ἀληθε- plus the regular endings -ος (singular) and -ων (plural); the dative contracts from ἀληθε- plus the regular ending -ι, and the dative singular starts with the consonant -σι, so the epsilon of the stem is unaffected. Accusative forms also come from regular endings. In the accusative singular of masculine and feminine forms, the regular ending -α contracts with epsilon to produce -η, while the plural ending -ες contracts with epsilon and yields -εις (just like contract verbs).

Note that adjectives like ἀληθής, ἀληθές have only two sets of endings: one for both masculine and feminine forms, the other for neuter forms.

Learn the declension of ἀληθής, ἀληθές:

Case	M/F Singular	N Singular	M/F Plural	N Plural
Nominative	ἀληθής	ἀληθές	ἀληθεῖς	ἀληθῆ
Genitive	ἀληθοῦς	ἀληθοῦς	ἀληθῶν	ἀληθῶν
Dative	ἀληθεῖ	ἀληθεῖ	ἀληθέσι	ἀληθέσι
Accusative	ἀληθῆ	ἀληθές	ἀληθεῖς	ἀληθῆ

Common slightly irregular 2-1-2 adjectives

Learn also the following three very common adjectives and their only slightly irregular declensions (they are mostly 2-1-2). Irregular forms are emphasized like this for your attention.

ἄλλος, ἄλλη, ἄλλο another, other; with the article, the rest. Declines as a regular 2-1-2 adjective except for the neuter singular nominative and accusative, which is ἄλλο rather than the expected ἄλλον. Note that the accent on the penult distinguishes the neuter nominative/accusative plural ἄλλα from the conjunction ἀλλά (‘but’).

μέγας, μεγάλη, μέγα big, large, great. Note the irregular forms in the masculine and neuter nominative and accusative. Otherwise a 2-1-2 declension pattern with a persistent accent on the penult.

Case	M Singular	F Singular	N Singular	M Plural	F Plural	N Plural
Nominative	μέγας	μεγάλη	μέγα	μεγάλοι	μεγάλαι	μεγάλα
Genitive	μεγάλου	μεγάλης	μεγάλου	μεγάλων	μεγάλων	μεγάλων
Dative	μεγάλῳ	μεγάλῃ	μεγάλῳ	μεγάλοις	μεγάλαις	μεγάλοις
Accusative	μέγαν	μεγάλην	μέγα	μεγάλους	μεγάλας	μεγάλα

πολύς, πολλή, πολύ much, many. Irregular forms also in the masculine and neuter nominative and accusative. Otherwise a 2-1-2 declension pattern with a persistent accent on the ultima.

Case	M Singular	F Singular	N Singular	M Plural	F Plural	N Plural
Nominative	πολύς	πολλή	πολύ	πολλοί	πολλαί	πολλά
Genitive	πολλοῦ	πολλῆς	πολλοῦ	πολλῶν	πολλῶν	πολλῶν
Dative	πολλῷ	πολλῇ	πολλῷ	πολλοῖς	πολλαῖς	πολλοῖς
Accusative	πολύν	πολλήν	πολύ	πολλούς	πολλάς	πολλά