Eius

[Hawkwood]

Is there any particular reason why the genitive & dative singular of the pronoun (is), are the same in all 3 genders ?
His, her & it seems a pretty important distinction even with added sentence context. This distinction seems to be addressed to an extent in the plural forms, well, between masc & fem anyway.

 

[Imber Ranae]

I can't answer why it's like that, but the distinction isn't as important in Latin as in English because ambiguity is reduced by other means, such as the reflexive vs non-reflexive distinction.

 

[Laurentius]

Well 3rd declension nouns don't make the distinction too.

 

[Imber Ranae]

Well 3rd declension nouns don't make the distinction too.

Adjectives, you mean?

 

[Laurentius]

Adjectives, you mean?

Ah yes sorry, nouns don't change gender.

 

[Imber Ranae]

There's also huius "of the latter" and illius "of the former" (and even istius "of that person/thing just mentioned by you") which can be used to distinguish between different referents when eius won't suffice.

 

[Hawkwood]

Thanks. I was just a bit curious as to why.

 

[Pacifica]

I am too now, but seems like no one has the answer.

 

[Laurentius]

Probably this is rubbish, but could it be from some greek genitive?

 

[Pacifica]

You're thinking of gen's in - os? From I don't think so, but related maybe. They have the "s" in common anyway, like the English one too.

 

[Laurentius]

You're thinking of gen's in - os? From I don't think so, but related maybe. They have the "s" in common anyway, like the English one too.

Yes or maybe they both come from some common root.

 

[Pacifica]

That's what I meant by "related".

 

[Laurentius]

That's what I meant by "related".

Yes I know, don't know why I said that sorry.

 

[Pacifica]

No big deal, no need to make such a face, haha.

 

[Hawkwood]

Well 3rd declension nouns don't make the distinction too.

But the adjectives have the noun to look to for context whereas the pronoun stands alone.

 

[Laurentius]

But the adjectives have the noun to look to for context whereas the pronoun stands alone.

Those pronouns usually refer to some noun too.

 

[Hawkwood]

Those pronouns usually refer to some noun too.

Yes, your right mate.