About Indefinite Articles
Please correct me if I'm wrong with my examples, but I learned that you can omit *Enas*, *Mia*, and *Ena* but I'm having a hard time;
For example, if I say "I'm eating an apple" will it be the same in Greek, if I wanted to say "I eat apples"- as in general terms, that is, my diet consists only of apples.
or, if I suddenly declare myself to be the monotheistic Christian God, could I omit the article? Would I have to add an article, if I'm *one* of the polytheistic Greek gods?
What about, if I were to say "I am a man" I can omit it compared to when I have to specify in a situation, like "You have to fight everyone, Benji!" and then in Greek, I need to have the indefinite article: "But I'm only *ONE* man!" right?
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1 Expert Answer
Emmanouil G. answered • 10/10/19
Tutor
New to Wyzant
I am a Greek teacher and a Byzantine Music teacher
I'm eating an apple=Τρώω τώρα ένα μήλο
I eat apples= Τρώω μήλα
In Greek simple present and present continue are the same, but when you talk everybody understands what do you want to say and what you mean. A man in Greek is male like English, but sometimes we translate badly the word άνθρωπος which is man or woman. The correct translation The word άνθρωπος is a human being. No man because a man is male and a woman is female.
God is not male or female. The Angles, too. God is one but has 3 faces the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In Greek we say ο Θεός means male but this is Greek Grammar. Theological God is not a man or a woman.
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Lane K.
"eis, mia, hen" is primarily the numeral "one" in ancient Greek. It is not normally used as an indefinite article. Even when it does, the semantics move it in the direction of considering its oneness. If you wanted to express something as indefinite, you would simply omit the definite article. If you wanted to declare yourself to be the monotheistic Christian God in Greek, you would need the definite article. If you wanted to say "I eat apples" in ancient Greek, you would probably omit the article, because the article would most likely indicate "the apples on hand." If you wanted to say you are one of the polytheistic Greek gods, you would probably use the numeral one, and maybe even put it first or last for emphasis in the phrase. Similarly with "but I'm only ONE man," though the emphasis might direct you to using the Greek equivalent of "merely."09/12/19