Lesson 10

10.1 The Direct Object⬆

The direct object of a transitive verb is usually introduced with the preposition ⲛ̅ (ⲙ̅, ⲙ̅ⲙⲟ⸗):

ⲁϥⲕⲱⲧ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲏⲓ.
He built a house.
ⲁϥⲕⲱⲧ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ.
He built it.

Many verbs, especially those denoting perception, employ ⲉ:

ⲁⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉ ⲡⲉϥϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ.
We heard his voice.
ⲁⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉⲣⲟϥ.
We heard it.

Occasionally other prepositions assume this function, as for example ⲛ̅ⲥⲁ in

ⲁϥϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁ ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ.
He looked for his wife.
ⲁϥϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲥ.
He looked for her.

The appropriate preposition for each transitive verb will be given in the lesson vocabularies when a verb is introduced.

10.2 The Indirect Object (Dative)⬆

An indirect object, if present, is introduced with the preposition ⲛ̅ (ⲛⲁ⸗, inflected like ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁ⸗ in §9.1):

ⲁⲓϯ ⲙ̅ ⲡϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ.
I gave the book to the man.
ⲁⲓϯ ⲛⲁϥ ⲙ̅ ⲡϫⲱⲱⲙⲉ.
I gave him the book.
ⲁⲓϯ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲛⲁϥ.
I gave it to him.

It is unfortunate that the prenominal forms of the most frequent direct and indirect object markers are the same (ⲛ̅, ⲙ̅ before ⲡ and ⲙ). In general the direct object precedes the indirect object unless the direct object is nominal and the indirect object is pronominal. In the latter case either order is correct, but there is a preference for placing the indirect object first. The preposition ⲉ (ⲉⲣⲟ⸗) also often marks what Greek and English regard as an indirect object (dative).

10.3 The Negative of the First Perfect⬆

The negative forms of the First Perfect are not formally related to the positive forms:

ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲃⲱⲕ I did not go
ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲕⲃⲱⲕ you (m.s.) did not go
ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲃⲱⲕ you (f.s.) did not go
ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲃⲱⲕ he did not go
ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥⲃⲱⲕ she did not go
ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲛⲃⲱⲕ we did not go
ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲃⲱⲕ you (pl.) did not go
ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩⲃⲱⲕ they did not go

With a nominal subject: ⲙ̅ⲡⲉ-ⲡⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲃⲱⲕ the man did not go.

Variant spellings such as ⲙ̅ⲡⲕ̅-, ⲙ̅ⲡϥ̅-, and ⲙ̅ⲡⲛ̅- are not uncommon.

10.4 Pronominal compounds of ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗⬆

As noted in Lesson 9, many prepositions consist of a simple preposition compounded with a noun. The nouns occurring in these expressions belong to a special group which take pronominal suffixes to indicate possession. We shall deal with the more important of these individually in later lessons, but for the moment note ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, the pre-suffixal form of ⲧⲱⲣⲉ (hand). The absolute form ⲧⲱⲣⲉ survives only in the special meanings "handle, tool, spade" and in some compound verbal expressions (see Glossary); in the sense of "hand" it has been replaced by ϭⲓϫ. Prepositions compounded with ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, such as ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧ⸗, often employ a construction with an anticipatory pronominal object before the real nominal object, the latter being introduced by the particle ⲛ̅ (ⲙ̅):

ϩⲓⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̅ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲣ̅ⲣⲟ
by (through the agency of) the king
ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϥⲥⲛⲏⲩ
to (into the hands of) his brothers
ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲥ̅ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲥϩⲓⲙⲉ
from (from the hand of) his wife

This same construction is also occasionally found with the other prepositions introduced thus far.

Vocabulary 10⬆

Exercises⬆

  1. ⲁϥϯ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩϣⲧⲏⲛ. He gave me a tunic.
  2. ⲁⲓϯ ⲛⲁϥ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲁϫⲟⲓ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. I sold him my boat.
  3. ⲁⲓϯ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̅. I gave the gold to him.
  4. ⲁⲛϯ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲛ̅ⲣⲱⲙⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ. We fought with those men.
  5. ⲁⲩϯ ⲟⲩⲃⲏⲛ. They fought against us.
  6. ⲁϥϯ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲛⲟⲩⲃ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ. He gave the gold to his son.
  7. ⲁⲩϥⲓ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲱⲛⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓⲣⲱϥ. They lifted the stone off of him.
  8. ⲁϥϥⲓ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉϩⲣⲁⲓ. He lifted up his son.
  9. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲛϥⲓ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ. We did not agree with them.
  10. ⲁϥϥⲓ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲉϥϭⲗⲟϭ, ⲁϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. He lifted up his bed and went away.
  11. ⲁⲩⲕⲱⲧ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲣ̅ⲡⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ. They built a temple there.
  12. ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲛ̅ⲥⲁ ⲡⲉⲩϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ. They did not obey their master.
  13. ⲁⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉ ⲡⲉϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲟⲩⲏⲏⲃ. I heard the voice of the priest.
  14. ⲙ̅ⲡⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲥⲙⲟⲩ. I did not hear about her death.
  15. ⲁⲛⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩϫⲟⲓ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ. We saw a boat there.
  16. ⲁⲩϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ⲥⲱⲓ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲁⲅⲟⲣⲁ. They sought me in the marketplace.
  17. ⲁⲛϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲉϫⲙ̅ ⲡⲉⲕⲣⲟ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲁϩ. We found him on the shore with our teacher.
  18. ⲁⲓϣⲓⲛⲉ ⲉⲣⲟϥ ϩⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲣⲓ. I visited him in his cell.
  19. ⲁϥⲛⲁⲩ ⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲟⲥ. He saw an angel.
  20. ⲁⲓϫⲓ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̅ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲁⲉⲓⲱⲧ. I received them from my father.
  21. ⲁⲩϫⲓ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧ. They took it from me.
  22. ⲁⲛϯ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟⲥ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲉ. We entrusted her to you (fm. sg.).
  23. ⲁϥϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ϩⲁ ⲡⲉϥϭⲗⲟϭ. He found it under his bed.
  24. ⲡⲉϥⲉⲓⲱⲧ ⲇⲉ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲃⲱⲕ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ. His father did not enter.
  25. ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲛ̅ⲕⲟⲧⲕ̅? Why didn't you (pl.) fall asleep?
  26. ⲁⲛϥⲓ ϩⲁ ⲛ̅ϩⲓⲥⲉ ⲉⲧ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ. We tolerated those afflictions.
  27. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲥϩⲱⲛ ⲉϩⲟⲩⲛ ⲉ ⲡⲧⲁⲫⲟⲥ. She did not approach the tomb.
  28. ⲙ̅ⲡⲓϯ ⲙ̅ ⲡϩⲟⲉⲓⲧⲉ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. I did not sell the cloak.
  29. ⲙ̅ⲡⲓϯ ⲛⲉ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲉⲓϣⲧⲏⲛ. I did not give you (fm. sg.) this tunic.
  30. ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲉⲓ ϣⲁⲣⲟⲓ? Why didn't you (fm. sg.) come to me?
  31. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲛϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ. We did not speak with them.
  32. ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲟⲩ ⲁⲩϯ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲏⲧⲛ̅? Why did they fight with you (pl.)?
  33. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥϩⲉ ⲉⲣⲟⲛ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ. He did not find us there.
  34. ⲙ̅ⲡⲟⲩⲁⲗⲉ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲩϫⲟⲓ. They did not climb onto their boat.
  35. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲧⲛ̅ϫⲓ ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲓⲉⲛⲧⲟⲗⲏ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉⲧⲛ̅ⲉⲓⲟⲧⲉ. You (pl.) did not receive these commandments from your fathers / ancestors.
  36. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉϥⲧⲱⲟⲩⲛ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ ϩⲓ ⲡⲕⲁϩ. He did not arise from the ground.
  37. ⲁϥⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉ ⲛⲉⲩϩⲣⲟⲟⲩ, ⲁϥⲡⲱⲧ ⲉⲃⲟⲗ. He heard their voices and fled.
  38. ⲁⲩϥⲓ ⲛ̅ϭⲓ ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲡⲉⲡⲓⲥⲕⲟⲡⲟⲥ. The crowd agreed with the bishop.
  39. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉⲛⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉ ⲛⲉϥϣⲁϫⲉ. We did not hear his words.
  40. ⲁϥϫⲓ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲁϩⲟⲉⲓⲧⲉ. He took my cloak.
  41. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉ-ⲡⲉϥⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ ⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲛⲁϥ. His disciple did not obey him.
  42. ⲙ̅ⲡⲉ-ⲡⲁϣⲏⲣⲉ ⲉⲓ ⲉⲡⲁϩⲟⲩ. My son did not come back.
  43. ⲁⲓⲥⲱⲧⲙ̅ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲛⲁⲓ ⲛ̅ⲧⲟⲟⲧϥ̅ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲁⲥⲟⲛ. I heard about these things from my brother.
  44. ⲁϥϯ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥⲙⲁⲁⲩ ⲉⲧⲟⲟⲧⲟⲩ ⲛ̅ ⲛⲉϥⲙⲁⲑⲏⲧⲏⲥ. He entrusted his mother to his disciples.
  45. ⲁⲩϭⲓⲛⲉ ⲙ̅ⲙⲟϥ ⲛ̅ ⲧⲙⲏⲧⲉ ⲙ̅ ⲡⲙⲏⲏϣⲉ. They found him in the midst of the crowd.
  46. ⲁ-ⲡϩⲁⲙϣⲉ ⲕⲱⲧ ⲛⲁⲛ ⲛ̅ ⲟⲩⲏⲓ ⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲩ. The carpenter built us a house there.
  47. ⲙⲉϣⲁⲕ ⲁ-ⲡⲟⲩϩⲁⲓ ⲙⲟⲩ. Perhaps your (fm. sg.) husband has died.
  48. ⲁⲓⲛⲁⲩ ⲉ ⲡⲉⲟⲟⲩ ⲙ̅ ⲡϫⲟⲉⲓⲥ ⲙⲛ̅ ⲧⲉϥϭⲟⲙ. I saw the glory of the Lord and his power.
  49. ⲁⲩⲡⲱⲧ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲛ ⲉ ⲧⲟⲣⲓⲛⲏ. They fled with us to the hill-country.
  50. ⲁϥϣⲁϫⲉ ⲛⲙ̅ⲙⲁⲓ ⲉⲧⲃⲉ ⲡⲉⲩⲁⲅⲅⲉⲗⲓⲟⲛ. He spoke with me about the gospel.