On the Adjective

Nikos and Anna

Στο μεγάλο σπίτι μένουν ο Νίκος και η Άννα, ένα νέο ζευγάρι.
In the big house live Nikos and Anna, a young couple.

Ο Νίκος είναι ένα ωραίο αγόρι από πλούσια οικογένεια.
Nikos is a handsome boy from a rich family.

Η Άννα είναι μια όμορφη κοπέλα, αλλά είναι φτωχή.
Anna is a beautiful young girl, but she is poor.

Ο πατέρας της Άννας είναι ψηλός και αδύνατος,
Anna's father is tall and thin,

αλλά η μητέρα της ειναι κοντή και χοντρή.
but her mother is short and fat.

Το σπίτι τους είναι καινούριο, αλλά η γειτονιά τους είναι παλιά.
Their house is new, but their neighbourhood is old.

Ο Νίκος έχει δύο μικρά αδέρφια, που είναι κοντά.
Nikos has two little siblings, which are short.

Απόψε θα δούνε στον κινηματογράφο το έργο "Ο καλός, ο κακός και ο άσχημος".
Tonight they will watch the film "The good, the bad and the ugly" at the cinema.

Grammar Notes

1. There isn't really much new information in this lesson; just a few notes and rules on the use of the adjective. Adjective is a word that describes a quality of the noun it accompanies. An adjective is always followed or preceded by the noun it refers to. Usually, the adjective precedes the noun, e.g. ένα μεγάλο σπίτι, like English (a big house). Sometimes it comes after the noun, e.g. ένα σπίτι μεγάλο. The difference between the two is that in the latter you emphasize the adjective (μεγάλο), whereas in the former the attention is concentrated on the noun (σπίτι). Another case, where the adjective may come after the noun is when the verb είμαι (I am) is used. For example,
   Ο πατέρας είναι ψηλός (the father is tall)
   Το σπίτι είναι καινούριο (the house is new)
2. The adjective has to agree with the noun it characterises in gender, number and case. Thus, one says
   Το όμορφο σπίτι=the beautiful house (neutral, singular)
   but
   Η όμορφη κοπέλα=the beautiful young lady (feminine, singular)
   and
   Οι όμορφοι άντρες=the beautiful men (masculine, plural)
   
   Note that the case, number and gender of the noun is easy to determine by looking at the ending or (easier) the article.
3. For details on the declension of adjectives, you can refer to the adjective page.
4. Even when the adjective and the noun it specifies are separated by the verb "είμαι" they still have to agree :
   Η Άννα είναι φτωχή
   Ο πατέρας είναι ψηλός και αδύνατος
5. An adjective may sometimes function as a noun, especially when the noun is omitted or implied, e.g.,
   Ο καλός, ο κακός και ο άσχημος = the good, the bad and the ugly,
   the same way it occurs in English. In this case, it is treated as if it were a noun.

Remarks

• Notice that in the sentence
  Ο Νίκος είναι ένα ωραίο αγόρι
  the adjective (ωραίο) agrees with the second noun (αγόρι), not the first (Νίκος), because that's what it refers to. Sentences can sometimes be tricky!
• The usual word order in Greek is
  SUBJECT + VERB + OBJECT
  but this is not a strict rule. Words may appear in different positions, according to what one wants to say or emphasize, e.g.,
  Στο μεγάλο σπίτι μένουν ο Νίκος και η Άννα.
  but also
  Ο Νίκος και η Άννα μένουν στο μεγάλο σπίτι.
  In general, the former emphasizes WHO lives in the big house, whereas the latter empasizes WHERE Nikos and Anna live.

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