Χαίρετε!
I have not been on this list for a while but am back and trying to continue to learn Greek. Mastronarde in Unit 31 of Introduction to Attic Greek, Ex. 2 wants me to write in Greek, “In the worst manner.” Since “ἐν” takes the dative case, I wrote, “ἐν τῷ Κακιστῷ τρόπῷ.” But the answer book wrote, “τὸν Κάκιστον τρόπον.” Anyone know why the answer is in the accusative and not the dative?
Smyth’s Greek Grammar calls this “Adverbial Accusative.” See Smyth § 1606 to 1611
1606. Many accusatives marking limitations of the verbal action serve the same function as adverbs.
1608. Manner.—τρόπον τινά in some way, τίνα τρόπον in what way? τόνδε (τοῦτον) τὸν τρόπον in this way, πάντα τρόπον in every way (also παντὶ τρόπῳ), τὴν ταχίστην (ὁδόν) in the quickest way, τὴν εὐθεῖαν (ὁδόν) straightforward, προῖκα, δωρεά_ν gratis (1616), δίκην after the fashion of (““δίκην τοξότου” like an archer” P. L. 705e), πρόφασιν in pretence (““ἔπλεε πρόφασιν ἐπ᾽ Ἑλλησπόντου” he sailed professedly for the Hellespont” Hdt. 5.33), χάριν for the sake of (lit. favour）: ““οὐ τὴν Ἀθηναίων χάριν ἐστρατεύοντο” did not engage in the expedition out of good will to the Athenians” Hdt. 5.99, ““τοῦ χάριν” for what reason?” Ar. Plut. 53, ““τὴν σὴν ἥκω χάριν” for thy sake I have come” S. Ph. 1413. Cp. 993.
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Ways that the ancient Greeks would use τρόπος to mean “in <some> way”:
bare dative: τρόπῳ LSJ II.1
bare accusative: τρόπον LSJ II.2
with prepositions: (ἀμφὶ, διὰ, εἰς, ἐκ, ἐν, κατὰ, μετὰ, σὺν) LSJ II.3
So there are a lot of right answers to this one.
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