Before we learn plurals, let's check you remember singulars! Click each word and identify whether it's nominative (subject) or accusative (object).
ὁ στρατηγος
Click: Nominative or Accusative?
Correct! This is nominative (the subject)
την κωμην
Click: Nominative or Accusative?
Correct! This is accusative (the object) - spot the ν!
τον θεον
Click: Nominative or Accusative?
Correct! This is accusative (the object)
ἡ βουλη
Click: Nominative or Accusative?
Correct! This is nominative (the subject)
Remember the pattern:
Accusative forms end in -ν (nu). This pattern continues with plurals too!
From One to Many
So far you've learnt how to say "the god" and "the village". But what if there's more than one? Greek has special plural endings!
Compare these sentences:
ὁ θεος φυλασσει την κωμην
The god guards the village
οἱ θεοι φυλασσουσι τας κωμας
The gods guard the villages
Singular (One)
ὁ θεος = the god
την κωμην = the village
Plural (Many)
οἱ θεοι = the gods
τας κωμας = the villages
What changes?
Both the article (the) and the noun ending change to show plural. Just like in English, but Greek is more systematic!
Masculine Plural Forms
Let's see how masculine nouns change from singular to plural:
The Article (The) - Masculine
Case
Singular
Plural
Nominative
ὁ
οἱ
Accusative
τον
τους
Noun Endings - Masculine
Example: θεος (god)
Case
Singular
Plural
Translation
Nominative
ὁ θεος
οἱ θεοι
the god(s)
Accusative
τον θεον
τους θεους
the god(s)
Pattern to Remember:
Nominative plural: -οι ending Accusative plural: -ους ending (still ends in that magic ν through the -ς!)
More examples:
οἱ δουλοι = the slaves (nominative)
τους δουλους = the slaves (accusative)
οἱ στρατηγοι = the generals (nominative)
τους στρατηγους = the generals (accusative)
Masculine Plural Practice
Click each sentence to reveal the translation:
οἱ θεοι
The gods (nominative)
τους αγγελους
The messengers (accusative)
οἱ στρατηγοι αγουσι τους στρατους
The generals lead the armies
διδασκω τους δουλους
I teach the slaves
οἱ ξενοι φερουσι τους λογους
The strangers bring the words
ακουω τους θεους
I hear the gods
οἱ διδασκαλοι παυουσι
The teachers stop
Feminine Plural Forms
Feminine nouns follow a similar pattern. Let's compare singular and plural:
The Article (The) - Feminine
Case
Singular
Plural
Nominative
ἡ
αἱ
Accusative
την
τας
Noun Endings - Feminine
Example: κωμη (village)
Case
Singular
Plural
Translation
Nominative
ἡ κωμη
αἱ κωμαι
the village(s)
Accusative
την κωμην
τας κωμας
the village(s)
Pattern to Remember:
Nominative plural: -αι ending Accusative plural: -ας ending (no ν this time, but -ς instead!)
More examples:
αἱ πυλαι = the gates (nominative)
τας πυλας = the gates (accusative)
αἱ νικαι = the victories (nominative)
τας νικας = the victories (accusative)
Feminine Plural Practice
Click each sentence to reveal the translation:
αἱ κωμαι
The villages (nominative)
τας πυλας
The gates (accusative)
φυλασσω τας επιστολας
I guard the letters
αἱ βοαι
The shouts (nominative)
γραφω τας επιστολας
I write the letters
ακουω τας φωνας
I hear the voices
αἱ νικαι
The victories (nominative)
Mixed Practice - Singulars & Plurals
Now let's mix everything together - masculine, feminine, singular, and plural! Click to reveal translations:
οἱ στρατηγοι φυλασσουσι τας κωμας
The generals guard the villages
αἱ βουλαι παυουσι τους στρατους
The councils stop the armies
ὁ θεος πεμπει τους αγγελους
The god sends the messengers
διωκω τους ξενους εις τας κωμας
I chase the strangers into the villages
οἱ θεοι εχουσι την δικαιοσυνην
The gods have justice
αἱ ειρηναι παυουσι τους λογους
The peace treaties stop the arguments
οἱ διδασκαλοι λεγουσι τους λογους
The teachers speak the words
ὁ στρατηγος αγει την βουλην
The general leads the council
οἱ συμμαχοι φερουσι τας τιμας
The allies bring the honours
Complete Overview: All Forms Together
Here's everything you've learnt in one place - your complete reference guide!
Masculine Nouns (2nd Declension)
Example: θεος (god)
Case
Article
Ending
Full Form
Translation
Nom. Sing.
ὁ
-ος
ὁ θεος
the god
Acc. Sing.
τον
-ον
τον θεον
the god
Nom. Plur.
οἱ
-οι
οἱ θεοι
the gods
Acc. Plur.
τους
-ους
τους θεους
the gods
Feminine Nouns (1st Declension)
Example: κωμη (village)
Case
Article
Ending
Full Form
Translation
Nom. Sing.
ἡ
-η
ἡ κωμη
the village
Acc. Sing.
την
-ην
την κωμην
the village
Nom. Plur.
αἱ
-αι
αἱ κωμαι
the villages
Acc. Plur.
τας
-ας
τας κωμας
the villages
Key Patterns to Remember:
📌 Accusative forms (objects) always have an extra letter at the end: -ν or -ς
📌 Plural articles always start with a vowel: οἱ, τους, αἱ, τας
📌 Masculine plurals use -οι (nom) and -ους (acc)
📌 Feminine plurals use -αι (nom) and -ας (acc)
Quick Test - Can you identify these?
τους στρατηγους = the generals (masculine, accusative, plural)
αἱ πυλαι = the gates (feminine, nominative, plural)
ὁ δουλος = the slave (masculine, nominative, singular)
τας νικας = the victories (feminine, accusative, plural)