Introduction#

Morphology#

Similar to [[Nouns|nouns]], adjective also decline for [[TODO|case]] and [[TODO|number]]. However, they also decline for [[TODO|gender]].

First-and-Second-Declension Adjectives#

The first group of adjectives is are called first and second declension adjectives because they use the same endings as [[Nouns|nouns]] belonging to the [[Nouns#First Declension|first]] and [[Nouns#Second Declension|second]] [[Nouns#Declension|declensions]]. There are a few subgroups here depending on exactly which set of endings adjectives take.

Adjectives in -ος, -ᾱ / -η, -ον use the regular [[Nouns#Second Declension|second-declension]] endings in the [[TODO|masculine]] and [[TODO|neuter]] and they use the [[Nouns#First Declension|feminine first-declension]] endings for the [[TODO|feminine]]. As with [[Nouns#First Declension|nouns]], a long -ᾱ- in the [[TODO|singular]] is retained only after ε, ι and ρ and changes to -η- otherwise.

Adjectives in -οῦς, -ᾶ / -ῆ, -οῦν decline mostly like those in [[Adjectives#First and Second Declension Adjectives|-ος, -ᾱ / -η, -ον]] but have a few different endings in some cases due to contraction. Once again, a long -ᾱ- in the [[TODO|singular]] is retained only after ε, ι and ρ and changes to -η- in all other situations.

There are also adjectives in -εως, -εων which use the [[Nouns#Second Declension|Attic declension]] endings. These have identical forms for the [[TODO|masculine]] and [[TODO|feminine]].

Third-Declension Adjectives#

Third-declension adjectives use the same endings as [[Nouns#Third Declension|third-declension nouns]]. Their stem is obtained by removing the ending from the [[TODO|genitive]] [[TODO|singular]].

Adjectives with a stem ending in -ον- have -ων, -ον as endings in the [[TODO|nominative]] [[TODO|singular]]. They lack separate forms for [[TODO|masculine]] and [[TODO|feminine]]. The -ν- at the end of the stem disappears before the σ of the [[TODO|dative]] [[TODO|plural]] ending. The [[TODO|vocative]] [[TODO|singular]] of the [[TODO|masculine]] and [[TODO|feminine]] is just the stem without ending.

Adjectives in -ης, -ες have a stem ending in -εσ-. The σ in the stem drops out when declining and the remaining -ε- is contracted with the ending which appears to change it:
- ε + -ος = -ους;
- ε + -α = -η / -ᾱ; The contraction to -ᾱ can only occur when there is ε or ι preceding the -εσ- of the stem.