Attributive, Predicate, and Substantive Adjectives

Depending on its placement, a Greek adjective has three possible functions.

30.9 Attributive Position:

Greek adjectives describe nouns when they are in the attributive position:

• ὁ κακὸς βασιλεύς
  • the bad king
• ὁ βασιλεὺς ὁ κακός
  • the bad king
• βασιλεὺς ὁ κακός
  • the bad king
• κακὸς βασιλεύς
  • a bad king

Note that while the adjective modifies its noun in gender, number, and case, it does not necessarily modify the noun in declension! βασιλεύς is 3rd Declension, but κακός is 2nd Declension.

30.10 Predicate Position

Outside the attributive position, Greek adjectives function as predicates to the noun:

• ὁ βασιλεύς κακός.
  • The king (is) bad.
• αἱ θλίψεις ποιοῦσι τὸν βασιλέα κακόν.
  • Troubles make the king bad.

30.11 Stand Alone (Substantive)

Greek routinely uses adjectives substantively:

• ὁ κακός
  • the bad man, the bad person
• Κακός
  • a bad man, a bad person
• οἱ κακοί
  • the bad men, the bad people 

If the definite article is neuter singular – or occasionally neuter plural – the substantive can serve as an abstract noun:

• τὸ κακόν
  • the bad thing; evil
• τὸ ἄδικον
  • the unjust thing; injustice
• τὸ καλόν
  • the beautiful; beauty