Introduction
A noun phrase comprises a nucleus and optional modifiers. The nucleus is one of the following:
- a noun;
- a pronoun, except for a weak personal pronoun
- another word being treated as a noun.
Articles
Similarly to the English articles “the” and “a(n)”, Modern Greek has a definite article and an indefinite article.
These articles must agree with the head of the noun phrase in gender, case and number.
Example: Article Agreement
ο σκύλος (masc. nom. sg.) - the dog
ένα σκύλο (masc. acc. sg.) - a dog
τα παιδιά (neut. nom. pl.) της γυναίκας (fem. gen. sg.) - the woman’s children
oi σκύλοι (masc. nom. pl.) ενός γείτονα (masc. gen. sg.) - the dogs of a neighbor
Both articles always precede the head of the noun phrase. When there are adjectives before the head, the articles also precede them. Articles are generally not used with determiners but there is one major exception. The definite article is obligatory when a demonstrative determiner (αυτός, εκείνος, etc.) or the determiner όλος is modifying the head of the noun phrase and is placed after the determiner
Example: Word order with articles
ο μαύρος σκύλος - the black dog
ένας μαύρος σκύλος - a black dog
αυτός ο σκύλος - this dog
αυτός ο μαύρος σκύλος - this black dog
εκείνος ο σκύλος - that dog
εκείνος ο μαύρος σκύλος - that black dog
όλοι οι σκύλοι - all (the) dogs
όλοι οι μαύροι σκύλοι - all (the) black dogs
The Definite Article
Noun phrases which include the definite article denote a specific items which have already been mentioned, or are present before the participants in the conversation, or are assumed by the speaker to be easily identifiable in some other way. Here is a list of situation when the definite article is used:
- With proper names (names of people and places), heavenly bodies, parts of the day, days of the week, months, seasons and festivals, when referring to a known, specific thing.
Example
Ξέρεις τον Γιώργος; / Do you know Giorgos?
Πήγατε στο Λονδίνο; / Did you go to London?
Ο Κρόνος είναι πλανήτης. / Saturn is a planet.
Θα σε δω τo μεσημέρη. / I will see you at midday.
Δεν θα μπορώ να σε δω την Κυριακή. / I won’t be able to see you on Sunday.
- With abstract concepts.
Example
Δεν φοβάμαι τον θάνατο. / I don’t fear death.