Ancient Greek Grammar – Indirect Speech
Learn about indirect speech in English and the that construction in Greek. This course covers the infinitive and participle constructions in Greek indirect speech, providing comprehensive explanations and exercises. Suitable for beginners and intermediate learners of Ancient Greek.
What you’ll learn
- Learn what indirect speech is in English
- Learn about the “that” construction in Greek
- Learn about the infinitive construction in Greek indirect speech
- Learn about the participle construction in Greek indirect speech
“Indirect statement” is the technical name for something that native speakers of English have been using as far back as they can remember. “I know that my Redeemer liveth.” I am told that two and two make four.” “I have discovered that fizzy drinks are bad for my teeth.” This kind of construction can be explained as an utterance in two parts. First, there is a verb of reporting or believing or perception (eg – I know). Second, there is a statement of alleged fact (eg – my Redeemer liveth). These two parts are then linked with a subordinating conjunction (“that”), showing how the second part follows from the first.
Greek has exactly the same construction as we use in English – ὁ Σωκράτης λέγει ὅτι ὁ γέρων σοϕώτατός ἐστιν. It also has two other constructions that we use in English, though less often than in Greek. These are the accusative and infinitive construction (We hold these truths to be self-evident), and the participle construction (I see myself as being the most handsome teacher in England).
This short course begins by explaining the grammar with English examples, and then goes to a fairly comprehensive explanation of how the grammar works in Greek, giving a number of examples and exercises.
Who this course is for:
- Beginner and intermediate Ancient Greek
