Nominal Patterns Ending in Consonants

We have already learned about the noun patterns ending in vowels. The pattern for words whose stems end in an -α- or -η- is called the 1st declension. The pattern for words whose stems end in -ο- is called the 2nd declension. Interestingly, these are the only two patterns whose stems end in vowels.

The 3rd declension it the pattern for words that end in any consonant. And by “any consonant” we mean any consonant whether is exists or not. Some stems can end in consonants that existed at one time but no longer exist in the Koine period, but they still affect how the endings react with the word. Others are consonantal vowels like the consonantal ι.

All this means that the 3rd declension can at first look like a pattern that doesn’t follow a clear pattern. However, there are some patterns in the 3rd declension that are very common. Others are less common, but still share similarities to all other 3rd declension words.

Below is a chart that shows the 3rd declension ending along with some of the more common patterns in the 3rd declension. The most important 3rd declension word in that cart is λέων. This pattern is used by masculine active and passive participles as well.

	masculine active participle ἐλθεῖν - to go, to come	-ντ	-ρ	-ι	endings
nominative accusative genitive dative	ἐλθών ἐλθόντα ἐλθόντος ἐλθόντι	ὁ λέων τὸν λέοντα τοῦ λέοντος τῷ λέοντι	ἡ χείρ τὴν χεῖρα τῆς χειρός τῇ χειρί	ἡ πόλις τὴν πόλιν τῆς πόλεως τῇ πόλει	- / -ς -α / -ν -ος -ι
For a more complete paradigm chart of 3rd declension, see Noun Patterns ending in Consonants.

Examples:

1. ὁ λέων εἶδεν τὴν γυναῖκα. The lion saw the woman.

2. ἡ γυνὴ εἶδεν τὸν λέοντα. The woman saw the lion.

3. ἐλθὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν, εἶδεν τὴν πενθερὰν τοῦ Πέτρου. Going into the house Jesus saw Peter’s mother-in-law.

4. Πέτρος εἶδεν τὸν Ἰησοῦν ἐλθόντα εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν. Peter saw Jesus going into the house.