All noun tags consist of six places, some of which may be place-holding hyphens. The major division within nouns is between regular nouns (n-) and pronouns (np).

Regular nouns are those traditionally so recognized, appearing as headings or lemmas in lexicons with genitive inflection and nominative article (e.g. ˆnqrwpov, -ou, é). If an expected noun ever appears as an adjective in the literature cited by Bauer, Arndt, Gingrich, and Danker in their Greek lexicon (hereafter BAGD), or if it is used as an adjective according to our analysis, its tag begins with a instead of n. For example, moical°v, though recognized as a noun in BAGD, is often used as an adjective (as in, e.g. Matthew 12.39). Its true noun uses are accordingly analyzed as AP, that is, an adjective used substantivally. This situation, however, is rare. Many other nouns appear in apposition to preceding nouns. Though they usually modify the preceding noun in some sense, they are nouns, not adjectives, in our analysis. On the other hand, a few adjectives have become nouns, no longer standing in attributive position modifying nouns. We have analyzed these as nouns (n-), not as adjectives used as substantives (ap). For example, ˆkrov seems to have ceased functioning as an adjective in the extant literature of the time. We thus analyze it as a neuter noun, ˆkron, -ou, tç, a decision supported by BAGD.

Usually in a passage giving a list, but specifically interwoven with predicate adjectives, it is clear that nouns do act as predicate adjectives. Rather than call them such by simple a- tags or by complex function tags (^a-), we mark them simply as nouns.

An indeclinable noun is analyzed in light of its use in the sentence. The gender and number of a noun are often taken from Hebrew when that is the source (thus Sabaðq is determined to be plural, e.g. Romans 9.29). HAbra€m is at different times each of the five cases due to its use within the sentence. Transliterated and then translated words are given the tags of their translation (see, e.g. Matthew 27.46).

4.2 Pronouns

Pronouns are a limited variety in our analysis. They include personal pronouns (gð, sÀ, aÇtçv); reflexives (mautoÂ, s e a u t o Â ); reciprocals (‡llÐlwn); and certain derived functions. AÇtçv in its intensifying meaning "self" is part of the noun system (np); in its meaning "same," part of the adjective system (a-). Because a traditionally recognized noun is analyzed an adjective (either ap or a-) if and when it functions as an adjective, the following "pronouns" are considered adjectives in our analysis: numbers, whether cardinal (e.g. eµ v) or ordinal (e.g. pròtov); relative pronouns (e.g. êv); indefinite pronouns (e.g. t±); interrogative pronouns (e.g. t°v); and demonstrative pronouns (e.g. oÆtov). These are tagged a- when modifiers, whether attributive or predicate; ap when standing alone as substantives, that is, pronouns. (See section 7 for pronouns analyzed as adjectives.)

4.3 Case

We have followed the five-case system rather than the eight-case system. This is to say that our analysis is based on the five distinct case forms rather than eight (or more) case functions. The ablative of the eight-case system is here part of the genitive case; the instrumental and locative, of the dative. The vocative case of the determiner has the form of the nominative, but is tagged dv (and not dn…^dv…).

Some nouns possess distinct forms for the vocative and nominative cases. In this case the vocative form (e.g. qe™ n-vm-s) is regularly labeled vocative. When the nominative form is used as a vocative (e.g. qeçv), it is also simply labeled vocative. When there is functional ambiguity as to whether a nominative or vocative use is intended (even when there is formal distinction—qeçv versus qe™), both options are given, with a slash between them, e.g. Hebrews 1.9 qeçv (n-nm-s/n-vm-s). In a number of instances, the vocative and nominative interpretations are equally appropriate; except in a few cases, we have chosen one over the other, often on the basis of editorial punctuation.

Our analysis does not allow for vocative pronouns (except as part of the adjective system). Nominative pronouns are themselves generally emphatic, calling attention to the referent. Why then allow for a vocative pronoun, especially since the few possible cases are ambiguous and can simply be identified as nominative pronouns? One instance of an ambiguous pronoun occurs in Acts 4.24: "Lord, you who…" (vocative interpretation); or "Lord, you are the one who…" (nominative interpretation, supplying the sense of eº). We prefer the latter, npn-2s. Furthermore, we do not identify what some would call semantic vocatives, e.g. the dative pronoun in the phrase, oÇa± Ãm²n (Matthew 23.15).

4.4 Gender

Each noun is assigned one of three genders, with but one class of exceptions. Some noun forms are, according to BAGD and other lexicons, ambiguous with respect to gender. When there is no contextual or other way to remove the ambiguity, we indicate both (e.g. Mark 13.8: limo°, n-nf-p/n-nm-p). If an author uses only one gender of a noun in unambiguous cases, we have usually assigned that gender to the author’s otherwise ambiguous uses of it. Or even if an author mixes genders but uses the same noun nearby in an unambiguous way, then that gender is assigned to the adjacent ambiguous instance. Or if BAGD says a noun may be now this gender and now that, but one gender is to be expected, we assign that gender to the word. PloÂtov, for example, one may expect to be masculine, so all ambiguous forms are labeled masculine. BAGD does, however, identify eight instances in Paul’s letters in which the word is unambiguously neuter; so they appear thus in our analysis. As in English we call dogs "he" and cats "she" until we know otherwise, Greek had unmarked genders for many animals. In those ambiguous forms where the unmarked gender is known, we have indicated that gender. For example, ambiguous ˆrkov in Revelation 13.2 is tagged feminine. In the case of st€dion (the singular of which is always unambiguously neuter), the plural, when unambiguous, is always masculine. We have marked the ambiguous plural forms masculine, following one scholar’s hypothesis that masculine plural means "stades", neuter singular "stadium."

As for pronouns, the gender is indicated in the case of unambiguous forms (e.g. aÇtçv). Ambiguous forms (e.g. aÇtòn, which may be masculine, feminine, or neuter) rendered unambiguous by context are assigned a gender; exceptions are gð and sÀ and their plural counterparts, which are never marked for gender.

4.5 Person

Although true nouns are third person, the person is indicated in the tag by a hyphen (n-nm-s) instead of by a 3 (n-nm3s). Although true nouns in the vocative case are predictably second person, the tag is handled similarly (n-vm-s rather than n-vm2s).

All pronouns (np, as opposed to ap) are marked for person, 1, 2, or 3. HEgð and sÀ, Óme²v and Ãme²v are invariable as to person. With aÇtçv, reflexives, reciprocals, and various derived functions of np, we have marked the person according to context. This means that ›autòn may be tagged npgm1p (Hebrews 10.25), npgm2p (1 Corinthians 6.7), or npgm3p (Mark 9.8).

4.6 Complex Noun Tags

Examples of simple alternates have already been noted, especially choices between genders in ambiguous instances. In Revelation 14.19 ljnçn is given the unusual analysis n-af-s&n-am-s due to preceding tÑn and following tèn.

Pronoun tags potentially occur as derived functions in four situations. When an article and d™ (or m™n) occur together, the article frequently functions as a pronoun. The article, however, must be nominative in case and either masculine or feminine in gender. Our working analysis for this is é (dnms^npnm3s) d™ (cc); the simplified tag actually given is é (dnms+) d™ (cc).

The second situation involves articular participles, which are discussed more fully in 8.3 below. When an articular participle occurs without antecedent, its determiner (or article) is given a working analysis as a determiner functioning as both a pronoun (or noun substitute, that is, the antecedent) and a relative pronoun. The working analysis of é pisteÀwn without antecedent is dnms^npnm3s&aprnm-s and vppanm-s. This may be read: dnms used as npnm3s ("the one") and aprnm-s ("who") vppanm-s ("believes"), though this represents the semantic structure, not a translation. The actual analysis tag assigned the article is dnms+.

The third and fourth derived functions are based not on articles, but on relative pronouns. The third is the relative used as a pronoun, which is also discussed more fully below (in 7.6.2). An example is this: ‡nq@ (pg) ön (aprgn-p^npgn3p) (Luke 1.20).

The last case of pronoun-derived function is a first- or second-person relative pronoun without antecedent. Again, full discussion appears in 7.6.2 below. Here let it suffice to offer an example. The working analysis is as follows: o´tinev (aprnm1p^npnm1p&aprnm1p) ‡peq€nomen (viaa--1p) … pòv (abt) žti (ab) zÐsomen (vifa--1p) (Romans 6:2). This may be read: aprnm1p used as npnm1p ("we") and aprnm1p ("who"). npnm1p is the subject of zÐsomen, aprnm1p of ‡peq€nomen. This represents a guide to semantic structure, not a translation. The actual simplified tag given is -aprnm1p.

One final complex analysis involving pronouns may be noted. We have already introduced the difference between aÇtçv (intensifying, np) and aÇtçv ("same," a- or ap). The former is outside the scope of the definite article, the latter within. In a number of places in Luke and Acts, aÇtçv meaning "same" has the position of aÇtçv meaning "self," which we have analyzed as np used as a-. An example is this: aÇtÞ (npdf3s^a--df-s) tÞ (ddfs) ôr‹ (n-df-s) (Luke 2.38).

The Analysis of Nouns and Pronouns