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III.       ADJECTIVE POSITION and FUNCTION           (see also under Participles, p. 10f.)

The definite article and its associated noun form a "sense unit." Position refers to the spatial relation of a modifying word or phrase to this “sense unit,” and is commonly indicated by the location of the definite article. Position in turn determines this word or phrase's function in its context, i.e. shows how it functions to "describe" its associated noun or pronoun.  Compare:  τῇ χάριτι τῇ τοῦ ἑνὸς ἀνθρώπου ᾿ Ι. Χ.,  "the grace [which is] from the one person Jesus Christ." Rom 5:15; or common examples like τὰ τῆς γῆς, "the things of earth."

A.        Attributive Position

            Functions to identify or describe

KEY:   Adjective "follows" definite article; i.e. is inside sense unit

 

            1.         Adjective Function

KEY:   adjective agrees with noun or pronoun and follows the definite article  **

 

                                                Example:

      ὁ μαθητῆς ὁ πιστός

OR       ὁ πιστὸς μαθητῆς

            The faithful disciple

 

            2.         Substantive (noun) Function

KEY:   adjective does not agree with noun or pronoun

 

                                                Example:

ὁ πιστός,    οἱ πιστοί,   τὰ πιστά

The faithful one; the faithful ones; the faithful things

 

B.        Predicate Position

            Functions to make verbal or adverbial

            Assertion about noun or pronoun

 

KEY:   Adjective agrees with noun or pronoun; does not follow article;  i.e. is outside the sense unit

            1.         as Predicate Adjective

 

 

                                                Example:

            ὁ μαθητῆς πιστός

OR       πιστὸς ὁ μαθητῆς

            The disciple is faithful

 

            2.         as Adverbial idea, telling where,

                        when, how, why, under what                             circumstances, etc.

 

 

                                                Example:

 

 

 

(This use is most commonly seen in the adverbial use of the participle, see under Participles, p. 9f.)

            ὁ μαθητῆς πιστὸς ἀκούει

            The disciple when faithful listens.

OR       The disciple listens faithfully, etc.

 

            ᾿ Αδαμ πρῶτος ἐπλάσθη

            Adam was fashioned first  (1 Tim 2:11)

            καὶ ἐστάθησαν σκυθρωποί.

            And they stopped, looking sad (Lk 24:17)

 

** NOTE:         When the noun has no definite article, the reader will have to decide about attributive or predicate position on the basis of the best sense in the context. Note, however, that Pronouns (personal, demonstrative, etc.) normally function as definite, i.e. as if they have a definite article before them.  Example:  In the phrase ἡμεῖς πιστοί, the πιστοί would normally be construed as predicate: "we are faithful"