Lesson 7 Prepositions Preposition: A word which helps a noun express its case function. Preposition
Genitive Case
Dative Case
ανα
Accusative Case up, among, between
αντι
against, instead of
απο
from, away from
δια
through, by
εκ (εξ)
out of from within
because of
εις
into from without, unto
εν
in, on, by
επι
upon, at, by (contact)
κατα
down from, down upon, against
along, according to
µετα
with
after
παρα
from
περι
about, concerning
προ
before
προς
for, for the sake of
συν
upon, on, at, over (location)
before, beside
upon, on, to, up to (motion)
beside, beyond, along about, around
at, on, near (position)
to, toward, with, at
with, together with
υπερ
in behalf of, instead of, for
over, above, beyond
υπο
by (agency)
under
The English prepositions listed above for the Greek prepositions are only representative and suggestive. In actual translation, there sometimes will be other possible English translations of some of the prepositions.
Things to keep in mind as you translate: 1. Observe the basic meaning of the preposition. 2. Notice the case construction which is used with it. 3. Notice the given context in which it is used. One predominate use of the preposition is its combination with a verb to express emphasis. The meaning of a verb maybe altered to many shades by the use of prepositions. Ex: βλεπω: I am seeing διαβλεπω: I am seeing through, or I am seeing clearly •
Prepositions ending in a vowel drop the vowel when the next word begins with a vowel. Ex: απ’ αδελφου δι’ ηµερων επ’ οικου
•
When the preposition is in front of a word that has a rough breath mark. The letters τ becomes θ, and π becomes φ. Ex: (αντι) ανθ’ αµαρτιας (απο) αφ’ υιου