The greek adjective ο πολύς-η πολλή-το πολύ and the adverb πολύ

The greek adjective  ο πολύς-η πολλή-το πολύ and the adverb πολύ

Lesson 41.

            The adjective ο πολύς – η πολλή – το πολύ (much, many, a lot of)

 is a very important Greek adjective.

            As an adjective it is used to describe a noun, so it has to agree in number

            (Singular, Plural), in gender (feminine, masculine, neutral) and in case

            (Nominative, Genitive, Accusative) with the noun. Let’s see first its

            declination and then we will see some examples.

           

Eνικός αριθμός / Singular
	αρσενικό/male	θηλυκό/female	ουδέτερο/neutral
Ονομαστική	πολύς	πολλή	πολύ
Γενική	πολύ	πολλής	πολύ
Αιτιατική	πολύ	πολλή	πολύ
Πληθυντικός αριθμός
Ονομαστική	πολλοί	πολλές	πολλά
Γενική	πολλών	πολλών	πολλών
Αιτιατική	πολλούς	πολλές	πολλά

            Examples:

1.      Πολύς κόσμος ήρθε στον γάμο του Γιώργου/ Many people came to

George’s wedding. The noun κόσμος (world, people) is a masculine

noun which is used in Nominative. In this example the noun κόσμος

is the subject of the sentence and the subject of a sentence is always

in Nominative. So we need the masculine form of the adjective in

Nominative Singular.

2.      Κάλεσες πολλούς μαθητές στο πάρτι σου;/Did you invite many students

to your party? The word μαθητές is the masculine noun ο μαθητής (student) in Accusative Plural. So we need the masculine form of the adjective in Accusative Plural.

3.      Έχει πολλή κίνηση σήμερα/ There is a lot of traffic today. The word κίνηση is the feminine noun η κίνηση (traffic) in Accusative Singular. So we need the feminine form of the adjective in Accusative Singular.

4.      Η ζωή πολλών γυναικών είναι δύσκολη./Many women’s life is difficult.

The word γυναικών is the feminine noun η γυναίκα in Genitive Plural, so we need the feminine form of the adjective in Genitive Plural.

5.      Πρέπει να πίνουμε πολύ νερό./We have to drink a lot of water. The word νερό is the neutral noun το νερό in Accusative Singular, so we need the neutral form of the adjective in Accusative Singular.

6.      Είδαμε πολλά σπίτια, αλλά δεν μας άρεσαν/We saw many houses but we didn’t like them. The word σπίτια is the neutral noun το σπίτι in Accusative Plural, so we need the neutral form of the adjective in Accusative Plural.

Let’s see now the adverb πολύ (much, very much).

The adverb πολύ, like all the Greek adverbs is an indeclinable word and it is always written with one λ (lamda) and υ (ipsilon).

We can use the adverb πολύ:

1.      To describe a verb: Πεινάω πολύ/ I am very hungry.

Σε αγαπώ πολύ/I love you very much.

2.      Before another verb: Μιλάς πολύ γρήγορα/ You are speaking very fast.

Περπατάς πολύ αργά/ You are walking very slowly.

3.      To describe an adjective: Ήταν μια πολύ όμορφη ημέρα/ It was a very beautiful day.

O Δημήτρης είναι πολύ δυνατός/Dimitris is very strong.

4.      To describe a participle: Είμαι πολύ κουρασμένη/I am very tired.

Τα παιδιά είναι πολύ πεινασμένα/Children are very hungry.