Ἀθήνᾱζε Α, "Τὰ γὰρ πρόβατα ἐν τῷ αὐλίῳ ἑστίν"

Here you can discuss all things Ancient Greek. Use this board to ask questions about grammar, discuss learning strategies, get help with a difficult passage of Greek, and more.
Post Reply
marcovlatinforum
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2018 11:00 pm

Ἀθήνᾱζε Α, "Τὰ γὰρ πρόβατα ἐν τῷ αὐλίῳ ἑστίν"

Post by marcovlatinforum »

[...] ο μεν γαρ Φιλιππος τα προβατα θεραπευει· τὰ γὰρ πρόβατα ἐν τῷ αὐλίῳ ἑστίν.

This sentence appears at page 55 in the Italian edition of Ἀθήνᾱζε Α. Τὰ προβατα seems nominative plural of the neuter noun το προβατον, this is quite clear form the context. Is the use third singular of εἰμί (instead of εἰσίv) a typo?

User avatar
bedwere
Global Moderator
Posts: 5110
Joined: Fri Mar 07, 2008 10:23 pm
Location: Didacopoli in California
Contact:

Re: Ἀθήνᾱζε Α, "Τὰ γὰρ πρόβατα ἐν τῷ αὐλίῳ ἑστίν"

Post by bedwere »

No, it's right. See Herbert Weir Smyth, A Greek Grammar for Colleges
[*] 958. A neuter plural subject is regarded as a collective (996), and has its verb in the singular: ““καλὰ ἦν τὰ σφάγια” the sacrifices were propitious” X. A. 4.3.19.
N.—The neuter plural seems to have been originally in part identical in form with the feminine singular in α_, and to have had a collective meaning.

marcovlatinforum
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 25
Joined: Wed Nov 14, 2018 11:00 pm

Re: Ἀθήνᾱζε Α, "Τὰ γὰρ πρόβατα ἐν τῷ αὐλίῳ ἑστίν"

Post by marcovlatinforum »

Thank you, @bedwere. Unfortunately this is not signaled in the marginal notes. There'll probably be an explanation later in the book.

User avatar
Barry Hofstetter
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 1739
Joined: Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:22 pm

Re: Ἀθήνᾱζε Α, "Τὰ γὰρ πρόβατα ἐν τῷ αὐλίῳ ἑστίν"

Post by Barry Hofstetter »

marcovlatinforum wrote: Wed Jul 24, 2019 11:56 am Thank you, @bedwere. Unfortunately this is not signaled in the marginal notes. There'll probably be an explanation later in the book.
An oversight, probably. I have taught Latin out of one book, however (Jenney) which does it deliberately, in the readings introducing a construction or vocabulary which then shows up a chapter or two later, no doubt expecting the teacher to fill in the gap, but in the hope that students might be able to figure it out from context, which sometimes they do. I always called it a "sneak preview of coming attractions."
N.E. Barry Hofstetter

Cuncta mortalia incerta...

Post Reply