BBG Chapter 13 — Demonstrative Pronouns/Adjectives

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Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar, Mounce, 4th Edition

1. Overview

Greek has two demonstrative words:

Both function as either adjectives (modifying a noun) or pronouns (standing alone). The key to reading them correctly is learning (1) their forms and (2) their syntactic position relative to the article.

2. Paradigm — οὗτος (this)

οὗτος follows a 2-1-2 declension pattern (masculine/neuter 2nd declension, feminine 1st declension) but with significant vowel alternation in the stem. The diagnostic feature is the rough breathing on all nominative and accusative forms, and the alternation between οὑτ-/αὑτ- (with ου/αυ) in the stem.

Key Diagnostic: If the noun in the stem syllable contains ου or αυ, the demonstrative uses οὑτ-/αὑτ- with rough breathing. This distinguishes it from αὐτός.

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Note: The neuter nominative and accusative are identical (τοῦτο / ταῦτα) — a regular pattern for neuter nouns in Greek. The genitive plural is the same across all three genders (τούτων).

3. Paradigm — ἐκεῖνος (that)

ἐκεῖνος is more regular than οὗτος — it follows a standard 2-1-2 pattern almost without exception. The stem is consistently ἐκειν-.

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

4. Demonstrative as Adjective — Predicate Position

When a demonstrative modifies a noun, it stands in predicate position: the demonstrative appears outside the article-noun group, either before the article or after the noun.

Rule: Demonstrative adjective = predicate position (demonstrative + article + noun, or article + noun + demonstrative). The noun always keeps its article.

Note: This is the opposite of a regular adjective, which uses attributive position (article + adjective + noun). The demonstrative's predicate position is a firm rule in Greek.

5. Demonstrative as Pronoun — Substantival Use

When a demonstrative stands without a noun, it functions as a pronoun. Its gender, number, and case come from its antecedent (or from context), and it translates as "this one," "that one," "these things," etc.

6. Key Diagnostics

Note on οὗτος vs. αὐτός: Both have rough breathing in certain forms. The difference: αὐτός always has αυτ- in the stem; οὗτος has οὑτ- (with ου) in the masculine/neuter and αὑτ- (with αυ) in the feminine. Additionally, αὐτός lacks the neuter nominative/accusative τοῦτο/ταῦτα pattern.

7. Translation Patterns with GNT Examples

οὗτος as adjective (near):

οὗτος ὁ ἄνθρωπος ἦν δίκαιος (Luke 23:47)
"This man was righteous."
→ οὗτος modifies ὁ ἄνθρωπος; predicate position (demonstrative + art + noun).

οὗτος as pronoun:

οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός (Matt 3:17)
"This is my beloved Son."
→ οὗτος stands alone as subject pronoun; ὁ υἱός is the predicate nominative.

ἐκεῖνος as adjective (far):

ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ (Matt 8:13)
"In that hour."
→ ἐκείνῃ in predicate position (dem + art + noun); dative feminine singular.

ἐκεῖνος as pronoun:

ἐκεῖνος ὑμᾶς διδάξει πάντα (John 14:26)
"That one will teach you all things."
→ ἐκεῖνος (referring to the Holy Spirit) functions as subject pronoun.

ταῦτα as pronoun (neuter plural):

ταῦτα εἶπεν Ἰησοῦς (John 11:43)
"Jesus said these things."
→ ταῦτα as direct object; neuter plural pronoun referring to the preceding discourse.

8. Common Errors to Avoid