The -μένος Participle: an Overview
The -μένος participle (η μετοχή) is the RESULT of a passive action turned into an ADJECTIVE. Take the passive «γράφτηκε» (it was written) and you get «γραμμένος» - “written”, a word that behaves exactly like the adjective καλός: «ένα γραμμένο γράμμα» (a written letter), «η γραμμένη σελίδα» (the written page). It is built on the same perfective-passive stem you met in Module 19, plus the ending -μένος/-μένη/-μένο, with the stress ALWAYS on the -μέ- syllable. Where the finite passive γράφτηκε reports the EVENT (“it got written”), the participle γραμμένος describes the resulting STATE (“it is (in a) written (state)”). This module teaches how to FORM it, how it DECLINES and AGREES, and the state-vs-event contrast that makes it worth having.
The rule
The -μένος participle (η μετοχή) is a passive action turned into an adjective. The passive event γράφτηκε (“it was written”) gives γραμμένος - a word that then behaves exactly like καλός: ένα γραμμένο γράμμα, τα γραμμένα ονόματα. It is built on the perfective non-active stem plus -μένος / -μένη / -μένο, and the stress lands on the -μέ- every single time, which makes it one of the easiest forms in Greek to recognise on sight. The distinction worth holding on to is state versus event: the finite passive γράφτηκε reports what happened, while the participle γραμμένος describes the resulting state - what the thing now is. It declines and agrees like any -ος / -η / -ο adjective, through all four cases and both numbers.
Paradigm
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | γραμμένος† | γραμμένοι† |
| Accusative | γραμμένο† | γραμμένους† |
| Genitive | γραμμένου† | γραμμένων† |
| Vocative | γραμμένε† | γραμμένοι† |
- The -μένος participle of γράφω: the labial φ + μ assimilates to -μμ- (γραφ- → γραμμ-), then -μένος. It declines like the adjective καλός, but the stress stays FIXED on the penult -μέ- throughout. ("written")
- Masculine nominative plural -οι, like καλοί.
- Masculine accusative singular -ο (also γραμμένον before a vowel), like καλό.
- Masculine accusative plural -ους, like καλούς.
- Genitive singular -ου, like καλού.
- Genitive plural -ων - but note the stress STAYS on -μέ- (γραμμένων), never *γραμμ-ένων. The adjective καλός is oxytone and carries its accent on the ending throughout (καλών); it is a different resting place, not a movement. This fixed penult is the participle's signature.
- Masculine vocative singular -ε, like καλέ. Morphologically regular though pragmatically rare for a resultative participle.
- Vocative plural equals the nominative plural.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | γραμμένη† | γραμμένες |
| Accusative | γραμμένη | γραμμένες |
| Genitive | γραμμένης | γραμμένων† |
| Vocative | γραμμένη† | γραμμένες† |
- Feminine -η, like καλή; stress fixed on -μέ-.
- Genitive plural -ων; stress stays on -μέ- (not the ending).
- Vocative equals the nominative.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | γραμμένο† | γραμμένα† |
| Accusative | γραμμένο | γραμμένα |
| Genitive | γραμμένου | γραμμένων† |
| Vocative | γραμμένο† | γραμμένα† |
- Neuter -ο, like καλό; stress fixed on -μέ-.
- Neuter plural -α, like καλά.
- Genitive plural -ων; stress stays on -μέ-.
- Vocative equals the nominative.