Full Answer Key to
W.D. Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek: Workbook
Revision 15 Aug 2009. John C. Beckman
Preface
Is using an answer key legitimate?
Yes, but only if your teacher permits. If you use this answer key without your teacher’s permission, you may be cheating
in class. Taking a Greek class is worse than useless if it starts or continues a pattern of God-dishonoring dishonesty,
whereas taking the “risk” of obedience is an opportunity to grow in faith. “Hope in the Lord and do what is right!”
(Ps 37:3).
Suggestion for use
If your teacher allows, it may be helpful to use this answer key to check your answer to each workbook problem
immediately after you have written a complete answer for it. Doing so will give you immediate feedback on whether or
not you answered correctly. Beware, however, that if you look at the answer key before you write a complete answer in
your workbook, you may not actually learn the material as well as you may think you have.
Guide to the answer key
The answer to a translation question steps through the text, giving for each word the parsing code (see page 2 of this
answer key), an English equivalent, and sometimes also the lexical form. Then an English translation is given. In the
early chapters, an intermediate translation is also given that preserves the Greek word order and minimizes the number of
added words. In some lessons, the intermediate translation also contains grammatical information in {curly brackets}.
The English translations given are often intentionally stilted in order to emphasize the grammar, to avoid paraphrasing
the texts from memory, and to convey nuances that are too awkward to express in a normal translation..
When parsing questions ask for (2x) or (3x), we are looking for different lexical forms, moods, persons, or tenses. After
chapter 7, words with multiple genders, voices, or cases are not marked as (2x) because they are so common.
Errors?
When you find errors in this answer key, please report them at www.teknia.com using the “contact” page.
The most recently corrected version of this document is available at www.teknia.com.
Fonts
This document uses Times, Arial, and TekniaGreek (which is available at www.Teknia.com).
+H cavriV tou: kurivou hJmw:n =Ihsou: Cristou: meta; pavntwn uJmw:n.
(Pro;V QessalonikeiæV b v 3:18)
1
,2 Basics of Biblical Greek Workbook – Answer Key
Parsing Code
Tense • P = Present Person • 1 = 1st Person
• I = Imperfect • 2 = 2nd Person
• F = Future • 3 = 3rd Person
• A = Aorist Gender • M = Masculine
• T = Perfect • F = Feminine
• L = Pluperfect • N = Neuter
• R = Future Perfect • Mf = Masculine or Feminine
Voice • A = Active • Mn = Masculine or Neuter
• M = Middle • Mfn = Masculine, Feminine, or Neuter
• P = Passive Number • S = Singular
• Mp = Middle or Passive • P = Plural
• Md = Middle Deponent Case • N = Nominative
• Pd = Passive Deponent • G = Genitive
• Mpd = (Middle or Passive) Deponent • D = Dative
Mood • I = Indicative • A = Accusative
• P = Participle (technically not a mood) • V = Vocative
• S = Subjunctive • Na = Nominative or Accusative
• N = Infinitive (technically not a mood) • Nv = Nominative or Vocative
• M = Imperative Suffixes • x = Indeclinable word
• O = Optative • ! = Emphatic form
• Parsings are abbreviated with a code (e.g., FSN) instead of being written in full (e.g., feminine singular nominative).
• The order of the code letters matters because the same letters are used with different meanings in different positions.
For example, in the code “NSN,” the first “N” refers to neuter, and the second “N” refers to nominative. The order
of the code letters depends upon the type of word as follows:
• Nouns, adjectives, & pronouns with gender: Gender, Number, Case, (“x” if indeclinable)
• Pronouns without gender: Number, Case, (“!” if emphatic form)
• Finite verbs: Tense, Voice, Mood, Person, Number
• Infinitives: Tense, Voice, “Mood”
• Participles: Tense, Voice, “Mood,” Gender, Number, Case
• Prepositions: “→,” Case of object of preposition
• If a word is indeclinable, we add the suffix “x” at the end of the parsing code to indicate that the case came from the
context rather than from the form. The gender and number are fixed for most indeclinable words, but occasionally
they come from the context as well.
• E.g., MSNx is an indeclinable form that is masculine, singular, nominative.
• We use upper case except when multiple parsings are possible.
• When multiple parsings are possible, we use lower case for additional possibilities in a position, so that each capital
letter indicates a change in position. If the context indicates that one is correct, we underline it.
• E.g., PAI2S = Present Active Indicative 2nd person Singular
• E.g., MfnPG = Masculine, Feminine, or Neuter Plural Genitive, but FPG in that context.
• E.g., PAI3P/PAPMnPD = Present Active Indicative 3rd person Plural or Present Active Participle (Masculine or
Neuter) Plural Dative. But PAI3P in that context.
• If a verb is deponent, we put a lower-case “d” at the end of the morphological voice code.
• E.g., PMpdI2S is middle or passive in form, but active in meaning (“middle-passive deponent”).
• E.g., AMdI2S is middle in form, but active in meaning (“middle deponent”).
• E.g., APdI2S is passive in form, but active in meaning (“passive deponent”).
• Prepositions do not inflect, so they do not need to be parsed. But, because the case of the object of the preposition
may indicate the meaning of the preposition, the case of the object is used as the “parsing code” for prepositions.
• E.g., Parse the preposition parav as (→G from) if it takes a genitive in that context, (→D beside) if it takes a
dative, and (→A alongside of) if it takes an accusative in that context.
, Exercise 3
The Alphabet and Punctuation
Grammar
1. What are the seven vowels?
Name Lower Case Upper Case
Alpha a A
Epsilon e E
Eta h H
Iota i I
Omicron o O
Upsilon u U
Omega w W
2. When do you find the two different forms of sigma?
a. The “final sigma” form ( V ) is written wherever lower-case sigma is the last letter of a word.
b. The normal lower-case form ( s ) is written wherever lower-case sigma is not the last letter of a word.
3. What are the two breathing marks, and when do you find them?
a. The rough breathing mark ( + ) sounds like the English letter “h.”
b. The smooth breathing mark ( = ) does not affect pronunciation.
• If the first letter of a word is a vowel or the letter rho ( r ), the word has a breathing mark.
• If the first letter of a word is not a vowel or the letter rho ( r ), the word does not have a breathing mark.
• If the first letter of a word is upsilon ( u ) or rho ( r ), the breathing mark is always a rough breathing mark.
Otherwise, either a rough breathing mark or a smooth breathing mark could be used, depending upon the word.
• The breathing mark is placed as follows:
• If the word begins with a diphthong, then the breathing mark goes over the second vowel of the diphthong
(e.g., aijwvn and Aijwvn).
• Otherwise, the breathing mark goes over the first letter of the word (e.g., rJabbiv, uJpevr, wJV, and ajmhvn).
• Exception: If the first letter is a capital letter (and not part of a diphthong), the breathing mark goes in
front of the capital letter instead of over it, because there is no room over the capital letter to put a
breathing mark. (e.g., +RwmaiæoV, =HlivaV, and +Iovpph).
4. How does the iota subscript affect pronunciation?
• The iota subscript does not affect pronunciation.1
5. When is the diaeresis used?
• The diaeresis ( ¨ ) is used over the second of two vowels in a row that normally form a diphthong, but should be
pronounced separately in this particular word. For example, in English, “Noel” as a man’s name has one
syllable and rhymes with “mole” because “oe” forms a diphthong in English. “Noël” as a woman’s name,
however, has two syllables and is pronounced as “no el” because the diaeresis over the “e” indicates that “oe”
does not form a diphthong in this word.
1
Advanced information: Some teachers instruct students to pronounce alpha differently depending on whether it is short
or long. Since iota only subscripts under long vowels, if alpha has an iota subscript, then you know that it is a long alpha,
and should be pronounced accordingly. Where there is no iota subscript, however, you need some other information to
know whether the alpha is long or short, and hence how to pronounce it. So the iota subscript does not affect the
pronunciation of alpha, but it tells you which pronunciation to use. Because of the difficulty in knowing whether an
alpha is long or short, some teachers have students pronounce alpha the same regardless of whether it is long or short.
3
, 4 Basics of Biblical Greek Workbook – Answer Key
This page intentionally left blank.
W.D. Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek: Workbook
Revision 15 Aug 2009. John C. Beckman
Preface
Is using an answer key legitimate?
Yes, but only if your teacher permits. If you use this answer key without your teacher’s permission, you may be cheating
in class. Taking a Greek class is worse than useless if it starts or continues a pattern of God-dishonoring dishonesty,
whereas taking the “risk” of obedience is an opportunity to grow in faith. “Hope in the Lord and do what is right!”
(Ps 37:3).
Suggestion for use
If your teacher allows, it may be helpful to use this answer key to check your answer to each workbook problem
immediately after you have written a complete answer for it. Doing so will give you immediate feedback on whether or
not you answered correctly. Beware, however, that if you look at the answer key before you write a complete answer in
your workbook, you may not actually learn the material as well as you may think you have.
Guide to the answer key
The answer to a translation question steps through the text, giving for each word the parsing code (see page 2 of this
answer key), an English equivalent, and sometimes also the lexical form. Then an English translation is given. In the
early chapters, an intermediate translation is also given that preserves the Greek word order and minimizes the number of
added words. In some lessons, the intermediate translation also contains grammatical information in {curly brackets}.
The English translations given are often intentionally stilted in order to emphasize the grammar, to avoid paraphrasing
the texts from memory, and to convey nuances that are too awkward to express in a normal translation..
When parsing questions ask for (2x) or (3x), we are looking for different lexical forms, moods, persons, or tenses. After
chapter 7, words with multiple genders, voices, or cases are not marked as (2x) because they are so common.
Errors?
When you find errors in this answer key, please report them at www.teknia.com using the “contact” page.
The most recently corrected version of this document is available at www.teknia.com.
Fonts
This document uses Times, Arial, and TekniaGreek (which is available at www.Teknia.com).
+H cavriV tou: kurivou hJmw:n =Ihsou: Cristou: meta; pavntwn uJmw:n.
(Pro;V QessalonikeiæV b v 3:18)
1
,2 Basics of Biblical Greek Workbook – Answer Key
Parsing Code
Tense • P = Present Person • 1 = 1st Person
• I = Imperfect • 2 = 2nd Person
• F = Future • 3 = 3rd Person
• A = Aorist Gender • M = Masculine
• T = Perfect • F = Feminine
• L = Pluperfect • N = Neuter
• R = Future Perfect • Mf = Masculine or Feminine
Voice • A = Active • Mn = Masculine or Neuter
• M = Middle • Mfn = Masculine, Feminine, or Neuter
• P = Passive Number • S = Singular
• Mp = Middle or Passive • P = Plural
• Md = Middle Deponent Case • N = Nominative
• Pd = Passive Deponent • G = Genitive
• Mpd = (Middle or Passive) Deponent • D = Dative
Mood • I = Indicative • A = Accusative
• P = Participle (technically not a mood) • V = Vocative
• S = Subjunctive • Na = Nominative or Accusative
• N = Infinitive (technically not a mood) • Nv = Nominative or Vocative
• M = Imperative Suffixes • x = Indeclinable word
• O = Optative • ! = Emphatic form
• Parsings are abbreviated with a code (e.g., FSN) instead of being written in full (e.g., feminine singular nominative).
• The order of the code letters matters because the same letters are used with different meanings in different positions.
For example, in the code “NSN,” the first “N” refers to neuter, and the second “N” refers to nominative. The order
of the code letters depends upon the type of word as follows:
• Nouns, adjectives, & pronouns with gender: Gender, Number, Case, (“x” if indeclinable)
• Pronouns without gender: Number, Case, (“!” if emphatic form)
• Finite verbs: Tense, Voice, Mood, Person, Number
• Infinitives: Tense, Voice, “Mood”
• Participles: Tense, Voice, “Mood,” Gender, Number, Case
• Prepositions: “→,” Case of object of preposition
• If a word is indeclinable, we add the suffix “x” at the end of the parsing code to indicate that the case came from the
context rather than from the form. The gender and number are fixed for most indeclinable words, but occasionally
they come from the context as well.
• E.g., MSNx is an indeclinable form that is masculine, singular, nominative.
• We use upper case except when multiple parsings are possible.
• When multiple parsings are possible, we use lower case for additional possibilities in a position, so that each capital
letter indicates a change in position. If the context indicates that one is correct, we underline it.
• E.g., PAI2S = Present Active Indicative 2nd person Singular
• E.g., MfnPG = Masculine, Feminine, or Neuter Plural Genitive, but FPG in that context.
• E.g., PAI3P/PAPMnPD = Present Active Indicative 3rd person Plural or Present Active Participle (Masculine or
Neuter) Plural Dative. But PAI3P in that context.
• If a verb is deponent, we put a lower-case “d” at the end of the morphological voice code.
• E.g., PMpdI2S is middle or passive in form, but active in meaning (“middle-passive deponent”).
• E.g., AMdI2S is middle in form, but active in meaning (“middle deponent”).
• E.g., APdI2S is passive in form, but active in meaning (“passive deponent”).
• Prepositions do not inflect, so they do not need to be parsed. But, because the case of the object of the preposition
may indicate the meaning of the preposition, the case of the object is used as the “parsing code” for prepositions.
• E.g., Parse the preposition parav as (→G from) if it takes a genitive in that context, (→D beside) if it takes a
dative, and (→A alongside of) if it takes an accusative in that context.
, Exercise 3
The Alphabet and Punctuation
Grammar
1. What are the seven vowels?
Name Lower Case Upper Case
Alpha a A
Epsilon e E
Eta h H
Iota i I
Omicron o O
Upsilon u U
Omega w W
2. When do you find the two different forms of sigma?
a. The “final sigma” form ( V ) is written wherever lower-case sigma is the last letter of a word.
b. The normal lower-case form ( s ) is written wherever lower-case sigma is not the last letter of a word.
3. What are the two breathing marks, and when do you find them?
a. The rough breathing mark ( + ) sounds like the English letter “h.”
b. The smooth breathing mark ( = ) does not affect pronunciation.
• If the first letter of a word is a vowel or the letter rho ( r ), the word has a breathing mark.
• If the first letter of a word is not a vowel or the letter rho ( r ), the word does not have a breathing mark.
• If the first letter of a word is upsilon ( u ) or rho ( r ), the breathing mark is always a rough breathing mark.
Otherwise, either a rough breathing mark or a smooth breathing mark could be used, depending upon the word.
• The breathing mark is placed as follows:
• If the word begins with a diphthong, then the breathing mark goes over the second vowel of the diphthong
(e.g., aijwvn and Aijwvn).
• Otherwise, the breathing mark goes over the first letter of the word (e.g., rJabbiv, uJpevr, wJV, and ajmhvn).
• Exception: If the first letter is a capital letter (and not part of a diphthong), the breathing mark goes in
front of the capital letter instead of over it, because there is no room over the capital letter to put a
breathing mark. (e.g., +RwmaiæoV, =HlivaV, and +Iovpph).
4. How does the iota subscript affect pronunciation?
• The iota subscript does not affect pronunciation.1
5. When is the diaeresis used?
• The diaeresis ( ¨ ) is used over the second of two vowels in a row that normally form a diphthong, but should be
pronounced separately in this particular word. For example, in English, “Noel” as a man’s name has one
syllable and rhymes with “mole” because “oe” forms a diphthong in English. “Noël” as a woman’s name,
however, has two syllables and is pronounced as “no el” because the diaeresis over the “e” indicates that “oe”
does not form a diphthong in this word.
1
Advanced information: Some teachers instruct students to pronounce alpha differently depending on whether it is short
or long. Since iota only subscripts under long vowels, if alpha has an iota subscript, then you know that it is a long alpha,
and should be pronounced accordingly. Where there is no iota subscript, however, you need some other information to
know whether the alpha is long or short, and hence how to pronounce it. So the iota subscript does not affect the
pronunciation of alpha, but it tells you which pronunciation to use. Because of the difficulty in knowing whether an
alpha is long or short, some teachers have students pronounce alpha the same regardless of whether it is long or short.
3
, 4 Basics of Biblical Greek Workbook – Answer Key
This page intentionally left blank.
