DEFINITIONS

900

A sentence expresses a thought. Syntax (σύνταξις arranging together) shows how the different parts of speech and their different inflectional forms are employed to form sentences.

901

Sentences are either complete or incomplete (904).

902

Every complete sentence must contain two members:

1. The Subject: the person or thing about which something is said.

2. The Predicate: what is said about the subject.

Thus, τὸ θέρος (subj.) ἐτελεύτᾱ (pred.) the summer | came to an end T. 3.102, ἦλθε (pred.) κῆρυξ (subj.) a herald | came 3. 113.

903

Complete sentences are simple, compound, or complex. In the simple sentence subject and predicate occur only once. A compound sentence (2162) consists of two or more simple sentences coördinated:

. A complex sentence (2173) consists of a main sentence and one or more subordinate sentences: ὁπότε δέοι γέφῡραν διαβαίνειν, ἔσπευδεν ἕκαστος whenever it was necessary to cross a bridge, every one made haste 3. 4. 20.

904

Incomplete sentences consist of a single member only. Such sentences stand outside the structure of the sentence. The chief classes of incomplete sentences are

a. Interjections, such as ὦ, φεῦ, αἰαῖ, οἴμοι.

b. Asseverations which serve as a predicate to a sentence spoken by another: ναί yes, surely, οὔ no, μάλιστα certainly, καλῶς very well!

c. Headings, titles: Κύ̄ρου Ἀνάβασις the Expedition of Cyrus, Ἀντιγόνη the Antigone,

b.

d. Vocatives (1283), and nominatives used in exclamation (1288).

e. Exclamations without a verb: δεῦρο hither!

N.—Examples of such incomplete sentences in English are oh, assuredly, no wonder, right about face, away, fire!

905

True impersonal verbs (932) have a grammatical subject in the personal ending; but the real subject is properly an idea more or less vague that is present to the mind of the speaker. Similar in nature are infinitives used in commands (2013).