Three-Ending Adjectives: 1st and 3rd Declension (3-1-3) -ς -σα -ν

31.6 The final group of adjectives uses 3rd DECLENSION endings for MASCULINE and NEUTER, but 1st DECLENSION endings for FEMININE.

Note, however, that when modifying a FEMININE noun, these adjectives use SHORT –ᾰ– in the NOMINATIVE and ACCUSATIVE SINGULAR. This change must be remembered, since it affects the ACCENT of these adjectives. These adjectives tend to fall into one of two groups:

• Adjectives ending in –ς –σα –ν.
  • These adjectives have a stem ending in –ντ.
• Adjectives ending in –ύς –εῖα –ύ.
  • These adjectives have a stem ending in –ε.

31.7 Adjectives in – –σα –ν

While a handful of adjectives have their stems ending in –ντ, we have already encountered the most common one: πᾶς πᾶσα πᾶν all, every, whole. No others appear in our vocabulary lists.

(cf. S 299, G 160)