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Coptic for All

Level 2: Lesson 3

Weak definite articles

Intro

There is another group of definite articles that are called “weak definite articles”. Again the choice of which article to use depends on the word’s gender and whether it is singular or plural.
Exchanging strong and weak definite articles doesn’t change much in meaning or syntax of the sentence – example:
ⲡⲓϣⲏⲣⲓ = the son = ⲡ̀ϣⲏⲣⲓ

Singular masculine
ⲡ̀ / ⲫ̀

If a singular masculine noun starts with one of these letters:
“ ⲃ ⲓ ⲗ ⲙ ⲛ ⲟⲩ ⲣ ” (you can remember these letters as “vilmnoor” ) then the weak definite article of choice will be ⲫ̀
– Please note that for the words starting with ⲟⲩ this rule only applies if ⲟⲩ was followed by another vowel
– Examples:
+ ⲫ̀ⲓⲱⲧ – the father
+ ⲫ̀ⲣⲁⲛ – the name
+ ⲫ̀ⲣⲱⲙⲓ – the man
+ ⲫ̀ⲟⲩⲱⲓⲛⲓ – the light (Please note this word starts with ⲟⲩ followed by another vowel ⲱ hence the article ⲫ̀ was used)

If a singular masculine noun starts with any other letter, then the weak definite article will be ⲡ̀ – Examples:
+ ⲡ̀ϣⲏⲣⲓ – the son
+ ⲡ̀ⲛⲉⲩⲙⲁ – the spirit
+ ⲡ̀ⲕⲁϩⲓ – the earth
+ ⲡ̀ⲟⲩⲣⲟ – the king (Please note this word starts with ⲟⲩ and not followed by another vowel hence the article ⲡ̀ was used)

Singular feminine
ⲧ̀ / ⲑ̀

If a singular feminine noun starts with one of these letters:
“ ⲃ ⲓ ⲗ ⲙ ⲛ ⲟⲩ ⲣ ” (you can remember these letters as “vilmnoor” ) then the weak definite article of choice will be ⲑ̀
– Please note that for the words starting with ⲟⲩ this rule only applies if ⲟⲩ was followed by another vowel
– Examples:
+ ⲑ̀ⲙⲁⲩ – the mother
+ ⲑ̀ⲃⲁⲕⲓ – the city
+ ⲑ̀ⲛⲏⲃ – the lady
+ ⲑ̀ⲣⲓ – the room

If a singular feminine noun starts with any other letter, then the weak definite article will be ⲧ̀ – Examples:
+ ⲧ̀ⲁⲣⲭⲏ – the begining
+ ⲧ̀ⲁⲫⲉ – the head
+ ⲧ̀ⲫⲉ – the heaven
+ ⲧ̀ϣⲉⲣⲓ – the daughter

Plural ⲛⲉⲛ

The plural definite article ⲛⲉⲛ is used only when the noun is associated to another by the preposition ⲙ̀ / ⲛ̀ (means “of”) – examples:
+ ⲛⲉⲛϣⲏⲣⲓ ⲙ̀Ⲡⲓⲥⲣⲁⲏⲗ – the sons of Israel
+ ⲛⲉⲛⲣⲱⲙⲓ ⲙ̀Ⲫ̀ⲛⲟⲩϯ – the men of God
+ ⲛⲉⲛϫⲱⲙ ⲛ̀ϯⲉⲕⲕⲗⲏⲥⲓⲁ – the books of the church

Test

Lesson 3 test

In order to complete the test you need to answer All the questions. When you are done click the “finish” button in the final slide 

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Coming soon

Level 1

+ Learn the Coptic Alphabet

+ Read simple words and examples from the liturgy

+ Practice reading the Lord’s prayer:

Ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲧϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲫⲏⲟⲩⲓ

Try some self study:

e-Learning
Level 2

+ Indefinite and definite articles

+ Present tense

+ Past tense

+ Possessive adjectives

+ Adjectives & association

+ Structure of Coptic sentence

Try some self study:

e-Learning
Level 3

+ Demonstrative pronouns

+ Negation of the past tense

+ Future tense

+ 2nd Past tense

+ Possessive pronouns

+ Studying the First Canticle

Try some self study:

e-Learning
Level 4

+ Imperative

+ Verb relation to object 2nd and 3rd degrees

+ Past continuous

+ Study the Lord’s prayer:

Ⲡⲉⲛⲓⲱⲧ ⲉⲧϧⲉⲛ ⲛⲓⲫⲏⲟⲩⲓ

Level 5

Advanced level, the curriculum will be tailored to the participants’ needs