Genitive
1. limits the meaning of a noun 2. expresses the idea of source or separation. These relationships can be expressed by the English prepositions of or from.- Possession: Denotes possession or ownership Smyth 1297-1302 “ὁ Κύρου στόλος” Xen. Anab. 1.2.5; the expedition of Cyrus
- Partitive: Denotes the general class to which a specific noun belongs. Smyth 1306-1319 “οἱ ἄποροι τῶν πολιτῶν” Dem. 18.104; the needy among the citizens
- Quality: Denotes the quality of a person or thing. Used mainly as a predicate. Smyth 1320-1321 “οἱ δέ τινες τῆς αὐτῆς γνώμης ὀλίγοι κατέφυγον” Thuc. 3.70; but some few of the same opinion fled
- Explanation: Denotes the specific class to which a general noun belongs. Smyth 1322 “ἄελλαι παντοίων ἀνέμων” Hom. Od. 5.292; blasts of wind of every sort
- Material: Denotes the composition or contents of a noun. Smyth 1323-1324 “ἑξακόσια τάλαντα φόρου” Thuc. 2.13; six hundred talents in taxes
- Measure: Denotes the extent in space or time of a noun. Smyth 1325-1327 “ὀκτὼ σταδίων τεῖχος” Thuc. 7.2; a wall eight stades long
- Subjective: Denotes the subject of a verbal adjective expressed by a noun, usually with an active sense. Smyth 1330 “τῶν βαρβάρων φόβος” Xen. Anab. 1.2.17; the fear of the barbarians (which they feel: οἱ βάρβαροι φοβοῦνται)
- Objective: Denotes the object of a verbal action expressed by a noun, usually with a passive sense. Smyth 1331-1335 “φόβος τῶν Εἱλώτων” Thuc. 3.54 the fear of the Helots (felt towards them: φοβοῦνται τοὺς Εἵλωτας)
- Price or Value: Denotes the price or value of an object Smyth 1336-1337 “χιλίων δραχμῶν δίκην φεύγω” Dem. 55.25; I am defendant in an action involving a thousand drachma
- With Certain Verbs: The genitive is used as the object verbs that denote sharing, touching, beginning, aiming at, obtaining, smelling, remembering, hearing, perceiving, filing, ruling, differing, commanding, etc. Smyth 1341-1371 “τῆς θαλάττης ἐκράτει” Plat. Menex. 239e; he was master of the sea
- Charge: Denotes the crime with verbs of charging, summoning, and convicting. Smyth 1375-1379 “ἐμὲ ὁ Μέλητος ἀσεβείας ἐγράψατο” Plat. Euthyph. 5c; Meletus prosecuted me for impiety
- Separation: The genitive expresses the ideas of separation with verbs denoting to cease, be apart from, want, lack, etc. Smyth 1392-1400 “λήγειν τῶν πόνων” Isoc. 1.14; to cease from toil
- Comparison: Denotes the person or thing being compared when used with comparative adjectives, comparative adverbs or verbs expressing the idea of comparison. Smyth 1401-1404 “ἄρχων ἀγαθὸς οὐδὲν διαφέρει πατρὸς ἀγαθοῦ” Xen. Cyrop. 8.1.1; a good ruler differs in no respect from a good father
- Cause: The genitive expresses cause with verbs denoting wonder, admiration, anger, etc. Smyth 1405-1407 “τὸν ξένον δίκαιον αἰνέσαι προθυμίας” Eur. IA 1371; it is right to praise the stranger for his zeal
- Source: The genitive expresses the idea of source. Smyth 1410-1411 “πίθων ἠφύσσετο οἶνος” Hom. Od. 23.305; wine was broached from the casks
- Time or Place within which: The genitive denotes the time or place within which an event happens. Smyth 1444-1449 “ᾤχετο τῆς νυκτός” Xen. Anab. 7.2.17; he departed during the night
- Agency: The genitive with ὑπό expresses the agent of a passive verb. Smyth 1491 “περιερρεῖτο δ᾽ αὕτη ὑπὸ τοῦ Μάσκα κύκλῳ” Xen. Anab. 1.5.4; And this was encircled by the Mascas
- Purpose: The genitive articular infinitive can express purpose. Smyth 1408-1409 “τοῦ μὴ τὰ δίκαια ποιεῖν” Dem. 18.107; in order not to do what was just