FEATURES OF GREEK SYNTAX THAT MAKE SEMINARIANS MAD
(This is a partial and developing list. You will need the Scholars Press SP Ionic font to read the Greek.)

Participles

Participles can be substantive ("the one who runs"), adjectival/attributive ("the dog which was running"), or adverbial ("while she was running").

A present participle modifying a past tense verb should usually be rendered, "While they were running...".

Some participial constructions are periphrastic; they combine with the verb to be. "I am running out the door.")

The genitive absolute is particularly fun. Sometimes the subject of a participle is not the subject of the main verb. In such cases both the participle and the noun or pronoun with which it is associated are in the genitive case. Consider this example from Black (144): "When they had said these things (ei)po/ntwn au)tw~n tau~ta), the apostle went out.".

Infinitives

An infinitive is a verbal noun.

Sometimes the infinitive is preceded by the neuter singular article.

Some prepositions accompany the infinitive: dia/, ei)j, e)n, meta/, para\, pro/, pro/j. These constructions sometimes take on unique meanings.

• dia to/ expresses cause: "because."

• ei)j to// plus an infinitive means "for the purpose of" or "in order to."

• e)n tw|~/ plus an infinitive means "while."

• meta\ to/ plus an infinitive means "while."

• para\ to/ plus an infinitive means "because."

• pro/j to/ plus an infinitive means "for the purpose of" or "in order to."

The accusative of general reference is especially pleasant. An accusative noun or pronoun may serve as the subject of the infinitive.

Infinitives with dei~ and e)/cestin can occur: "It is necessary," or "It is permissable."

The infinitive can serve several functions:

• Infinitive of purpose: "I ran to catch the newspaper."

• Infinitive of result: "In ran just to perspire."

• Infinitive of time: "Before I speak..." (pri\n e)gw/ le/gein).

• Infinitive of cause, in which dia\ to/ precedes the infinitive: "I am coming because I want to speak" (e)rxomai dia\ to/ Qe/lein la/lein).

• The sunbstantive infinitive may function as a noun, usually preceded by the definite article.