Learning Greek with Plato

Adult learners of ancient Greek are often attracted to it by the prospect of being able to read in the original a particular author or genre. Greek philosophical writing and Plato in particular is often the target. This book’s material has been tried and tested by the author over the years with adult classes, and can be used as a course textbook, or as a handbook for self-teaching.

Each of 25 sections is clearly laid out – with tabulation of Greek word-forms and grammar. Each includes ample exercises and practice in reading Greek sentences. Readings in later sections consist of passages of continuous Greek from Plato’s Meno, a typical Platonic dramatic dialogue.

Preface, ix; Introduction: Background to Plato's Meno, xii; Section 1 The Alphabet, 1; Punctuation and Accents, 6; Section 2 The Verb "I am", 9; Asking Questions, 10; Nouns and Declensions, 11; Adjectives, 14; Plurals, 15; Section 3 Subjects and Verbs - Verb Endings, 19; Personal Pronouns, 24; Neuter Plural Subjects, 27; Section 4 The Object, 30; Accusative of Respect or Manner, 36; Note on Greek Dialects, 40; Section 5 Verbs - Middle and Passive Endings, 41; "This", 46; Section 6 The Present Infinitive, 49; Adverbs, 50; The Genitive Case, 51; Section 7 Conjunctions, 60; The Dative Case, 61; "Who?" and "What?", 67. "Someone" and "Something", 67; The Vocative Case, 70; Third and Mixed Declension Adjectivess, 71; Section 8 Prepositions, 72; Verbs - Overview of Tenses, 75; The Imperfect Tense, 76; Augments, 78; Translating Plato's Meno 70a1-70c3, 82; Section 9 The Perfect Tense, 87; The Perfect Tense Middle and Passive, 92; Translating Plato's Meno 70c3-71c4, 96; Section 10 Demonstrative Pronouns, 99; Present Participles, 100; The Perfect Active Participle, 105; Middle and Passive Participles, 107; Translating Plato's Meno 71c5-72a5, 109; Section 11 "Every"/ "All", 115; The Aorist Tense, 116; The Weak Aorist Indicative Active, 118; The Weak Aorist Indicative Middle, 124; Kinds of Condition, 125; Translating Plato's Meno 72a6-72d3, 128; Section 12 Multiple Questions, 131; The Future Active, 132; The Future Middle, 133; The Subjunctive Mood, 140; Infinitive as Subject and Object, 145; Future and General Conditions, 146; Translating Plato's Meno 72d4-73c5, 147; Section 13 Adjectives with Masculine for Feminine, 151; The Optative Mood, 152; Future Unlikely Conditions, 157; Translating Plato's Meno 73c6-74a6, 160; Section 14 The Strong Aorist Active Tense, 164; The Strong Aorist Middle Tense, 171; Purpose Clauses, 176; Translating Plato's Meno 74a7-74e10, 177; Section 15 Imperatives, 183; Prohibitions, 188; Strong and Doubtful Denials, 191; Translating Plato's Meno 74e11-75d7, 192; Section 16 Contraction (Verbs), 196; Translating Plato's Meno 75d7-76c3, 213; Section 17 Relative Pronouns: "Who", "What", "Which", "That", 218; Translating Plato's Meno 76c4-77a2, 223; Section 18 The Aorist Passive Tense, 228; Translating Plato's Meno 77a2-77e4, 238; Section 19 The Genitive Absolute, 242; The Future Passive Tense, 245; Translating Plato's Meno 77e5-78c3, 249; Section 20 Temporal Clauses, 253; The Pluperfect Tense, 258; Translating Plato's Meno 78c4-79a2, 260; Section 21 Contracted Adjective Endings (Third Declension), 265; Reported Speech, 266; Accusative and Infinitive used for Reported Statements, 268; Participle Construction with "Know" or "See", 272; Relative Clauses, Direct and Indirect Questions, 273; Translating Plato's Meno 79a3-79c10, 277. Section 22 ("Because"), 281; ("Although"), 284; Numerals, 287; Multiple Negatives, 290; Translating Plato's Meno 79d1-79e6, 291; Section 23 Irregular Adjectives, 293; Comparatives and Superlatives, 295; Translating Plato's Meno 79e7-80b7, 304; Section 24; Translating Plato's Meno 80b8-81a10, 325; Section 25; Impersonal Verbs, 333; Accusative Absolute, 335; Verbal Adjectives, 336; Reflexive Pronouns, 337; Translating Plato's Meno 81a10-81e6, 341; Appendices; Cases and Prepositions, 347; Summary of Voice, Mood, Tense and Aspect in the Greek Verb, 353; Word Order, 366; Duals, 370; Numerals, 374; Declension of Nouns, Adjectives and Pronouns, 378; Reference List of Verb Endings and Irregular Verbs; Answers, 429; Word List, 462; Principal Tenses of Some of the More Difficult Verbs, 488; Index, 498.

Frank Beetham is a retired teacher of Classics and author of the successful Beginning Greek with Homer (Bristol Classical Press, 1994).