Declension of Nouns

There are three declension of nouns i.e general forms of inflection.
(1) The first declension belong to all whose stems end in α
(2) The second declension belong to all whose stems end in ο
(3) The third declension belong to all whose stems end in other than

The first and second declensions are parisyllabic, i.e. the terminations are blended with the stem-vowel in one syllable. The third declension is imparisyllable, i.e the termination of most of the cases forms an additional sylable to the stems.

First Declension

Feminines, in the nominative case, exhibit the simple stem, excepting that in cetain cases the alpha is lengthened into η. Hence the following varieties:

Notes:

1. Like γραφη are all nouns of this declension whose nominative ends in η.
2. Like γλωσσα are nouns in α preceded by a consonant except ρ.
3. Like οικια are nouns in α preceded by a vowel or ρ
4. The terminations of the plural are alike in all three.

Nouns

Masculines of this declension form the nominative in σ added to the stem, the α being lengthened into η after a consonant, excepting ρ. Hence these varieties:

Notes:

1. The Vocative Singular gives the simple stem.
2. The Plural terminations are precisely like the feminines.
3. Proper names in ας which have a consonant before the stem-letter, form the genitive in α instead of ου. Thus Κηφασ Kephas, genitive Κηφα, but Ανδρεασ Andrew , genitive Ανδρεου.

When the predicate is a noun (or pronoun. adjective, or participle) joined to the subject by a form of the substantive verb (copula) it must correspond in case. This is sometimes expressed by the rule, "The verb to be take the same case after as before it." Subject and predicate are in apposition.

Second Declension

Masculines and feminines add ς to the stem, and are similarly declined throughout. Neuter nouns add ν.

Nouns Of Varying Declension

A few nouns in -ος alternate between second declension and the third:

ελεος mercy , genitive ελεους, dative ελεει, accusative ελεος and ελεον.

νους mind genitive νοος, dative νοι

σαββατον sabbath, dative plural σαββασι.

Μωσης or Μωυσης, Moses, in genitive Μωυσεως, varies in dative and accusative between the first and third declensions: Μωυσει and Μωυση, Μωυσεα and Μωυσην.

Jerusalem appears in 3 forms:

1.’Ιεροσολυμα – feminine singular first declension .
2.’Ιεροσολυμα, ‘Ιεροσολυμων, ‘Ιεροσολυμοις – neuter plural second declension.
3.’Ιερουσαλημ – indeclinable from the Hebrew.
Many proper names from the Hebrew are indeclinable, also a few other words, such as πασχα passover.