Difference between μου and ἐμός

Greek Learning Greek
1

Hi everyone,

I’m new here. I am puzzled by the difference between the genitive of ἐγώ (of me) and the Greek word ἐμός meaning “my”.

The first isn’t declined for gender but ἐμός is. Could someone elaborate what the difference between saying something like:

τό ὄνομα μου and τό ὄνομα ἐμόν

Thank you!

2
  1. Sorry for the late reply. We were having problems getting posts approved. I hope you are still around.
  2. I think it should be τὸ ὄνομά μου and τὸ ἐμὸν ὄνομα.
  3. Compare:

Mt. 18:5: καὶ ὃς ἐὰν δέξηται ἓν παιδίον τοιοῦτο ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματί μου, ἐμὲ δέχεται.



Mt. 18:20: οὗ γάρ εἰσιν δύο ἢ τρεῖς συνηγμένοι εἰς τὸ ἐμὸν ὄνομα, ἐκεῖ εἰμι ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν.

3

The difference.
τὸ ὄνομα μου: this is the ordinary (unmarked) way of saying “my.” As an enclitic μου follows the noun.
τὸ ἐμὸν ὄνομα (Markos gives the correct position): this adjectival form makes “my” emphatic—mine as distinct from anyone else’s.
(το ονομα εμον would put the adjective in “predicative” position: “the name [is] mine.”)

φιλῶ τα παιδια I like children or (in appropriate context) I love my children.
φιλεῖ τα παιδια μου He likes/loves/kisses my children.
φιλει τα εμα παιδια, (τα δε σα ου). He likes my children, (not yours).
(φιλῶ τὰ ἐμαυτου παιδια I love my own children.)

4

Ἐγὼ φιλῶ τα παιδια μου / I love MY children

Ἐγὼ φιλῶ τα εμα παιδια / I love “MINE children”

Ἐγὼ φιλῶ ἐμαυτὸν / I love myshelf (*) [%]
----------Reflexive Pronoun/Αυτοπαθητική αντωνυμία--------

\

  • : p.140, Γραμματική της Αρχαίας Ελληνικής (Ά Λυκείου), Μιχαήλ Οικονόμου / Official book of Greek upper high school

% : http://www.ccel.org/s/smyth/grammar/html/smyth_2l_uni.htm#329

EDIT 2 DEC 2015

5

This looks like an interesting resource. Do you have a link to an on-line version?

6

I will give it to you as there is a pdf file version of that book.

Before you use that book ask yourself first if you would want studying ancient Greek by using a book that is writen in a Greek dialect that is the outcome of a very difficult unusual and adventurous historical course of 1500 years. Unless is someone’s mother tongue it might get confusing…

You might discover totally different terminology in grammar.


https://www.google.com.au/url?q=http://users.dra.sch.gr/stava/symfo/a_g.a.e.pdf&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwibuv756KPJAhUCxqYKHUbMApYQFggPMAI&usg=AFQjCNEIRsK6Suz7OwqwTYIEdV9fNcthgw

Nevertheless, my hard copy of Μιχαήλ Οικονόμου book is a bit different because I have had it since late 80’s.
Mine, on the frontpage says only Α΄Λυκείου(year 10) instead of “Γυμνασίου - Λυκείου”(meaning year 7-year 12)

7

Hello and thank you to everyone who replied.

I thought as it took so long for my post to be approved, I had asked a stupid question.

So am I right in thinking that I cannot use a predicative “the name is mine” with ἐγώ - which would make sense, and one can choose between the adjective ἐμός and the genitive of ἐγώ for emphasis?

Thanks again.

John

8

The only way to say “The name is mine” is το ονομα (εστιν) εμον or εμον (εστι) το ονομα.
το ονομα μου can only mean “my name.”
See my earlier post for the usage. (Damian’s is misleading.)

And welcome to Textkit, John! (το γαρ όνομά σοι εστιν Ιωαννης—Note the dative.)