Class Notes
Prepositions are adverbs specialized to define more clearly the meaning of case, many of which came to be used in composition with verbs. When the word functions as an adverb it does not need an object; however, when serving as a preposition it required an object.
Some words can function as either prepositions or adverbs, depending on whether they have an object:
Preposition: “She walked across the bridge.” (“Across” is a preposition because it relates to “the bridge.”)
Adverb: “She walked across.” (“Across” functions as an adverb because it has no object and modifies the verb “walked.”)
The Greek preposition is used to better define the idea of case. They assist the cases by aiding in clarifying the meaning of the case. The case governs the meaning of the preposition. Therefore, the preposition does not give the meaning to the case, for they do not govern the case.
As an example for how the meaning of the preposition is governed by the case it is used with we can examine the different meanings of παρά (para) based upon what case the noun is expressing. παρά (para) primarily means “beside,” “alongside,” or “near. The English word parallel is derived from παράλληλος (parallēlos), which is a compound of two parts: παρά (para): Meaning “beside” or “alongside.” ἀλληλος (allēlos): Meaning “one another.”
Ablative: from the side of.
Locative: by the side of.
Accusative: beside, beyond, against (contrary to).
By the nature of the Nominative and Vocative cases, they do not use prepositions. Therefore, the cases that use prepositions are the genitive, ablative, dative, locative, instrumental, and accusative.
When used in compound with the verbs the prepositions have two common uses.
The preposition is merely local. I throw out combines ἐκ (ek): A preposition meaning “out of” or “from” and
βάλλω (ballō): A verb meaning “to throw” or “to cast.”
The preposition intensifies or completes the idea of the verb. ἐσθίω (esthiō) means, I eat. When the preposition κατά (kata) is added to the word, it intensifies the meaning, expressing “I devour”, or literally “I eat down.” This verb then emphasizes consuming something entirely or devouring it with intensity.
Preposition:
- ἀνά (ana)
- Accusative: up, again
- ἀντί (anti)
- Genitive: Against (opposed to).
- Ablative: instead of, in place of. Indicating substitution.
- ἀπό (apo)
- Genitive: from, away from.
- διά (dia)
- Genitive: through (intermediate agency).
- Ablative: through (source).
- Accusative: because of, on account of.
- εἰς (eis)
- Accusative: into, unto, with reference to, because of, against (hostility).
- ἐκ / ἐξ (ek/ex)
- Ablative: from, out from (source), out from within.
- ἐν (en)
- Locative: in, with in, among (in the plural).
- Instrumental: by (means of), with.
- ἐπί (epi)
- Genitive: upon, on (Emphatic, contact), at, by.
- Locative: upon, on, at, over (position).
- Accusative: upon, on the basis of, on the occasion of, against (oppression).
Up to (without going over).
- κατά (kata)
- Genitive: down upon, against (contrary to).
- Ablative: down from.
- Accusative: according to, with reference to, as measured by.
- μετά (meta)
- Genitive: with (loosely associated with, accompanied by)
- Accusative: after
- παρά (para)
- Ablative: from (The side of).
- Locative: by the side of.
- Accusative: beside, beyond, against, (contrary to).
- περί (peri)
- Genitive: about, generally concerning.
- Accusative: around (position); about (Specifically concerning).
- πρό (pro)
- Ablative: before.
- πρός (pros)
- Genitive: in interest of.
- Locative: at (facing).
- Accusative: to, towards, with, against (facing, conflict).
- σύν (syn)
- Dative: together with (intimately).
- Locative: with (close association).
- ὑπέρ (hyper)
- Genitive: On behalf of, for the sake of, in place of (substitution).
- Accusative: over, above, beyond.
- ὑπό (hypo)
- Ablative: by (Direct agency).
- Accusative: under.