Formal Greek preserves a layer of connectors rare in conversation: βάσει, ένεκα, χάριν, δυνάμει, πλην, άνευ, περί. This is recognition-only material: use the everyday alternatives unless the genre calls for the inherited formula.
English has similarly elevated equivalents such as by virtue of and for the sake of, but it does not mark their complement for case. In Greek, the genitive article or noun ending is part of the inherited formula and cannot be omitted.
The frequent genitive prepositions λόγω, εξαιτίας, μέσω, αντί, εναντίον, υπέρ, μεταξύ, εντός are not retaught here; see genitive after learned prepositions. This page isolates the less productive Katharevousa layer and the fixed phrases in which it survives.
The recognition inventory
| Learned connector | Meaning | Typical frame | Everyday replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| βάσει | on the basis of | βάσει + genitive (formal); legal | με βάση + accusative |
| ένεκα | because of | ένεκα + genitive (literary) / (formal) | λόγω; επειδή + clause |
| χάριν | for the sake of | χάριν + genitive (academic) / (literary) | για; για λόγους… |
| δυνάμει | by virtue of | δυνάμει + genitive (formal); legal | με βάση; σύμφωνα με |
| πλην | except for | fixed learned phrases (formal) | εκτός από + accusative |
| άνευ | without | άνευ + genitive (formal) / (archaic) | χωρίς + accusative |
| περί | about, concerning | fixed phrases with genitive (formal) / (archaic) | για + accusative |
βάσει and δυνάμει: frozen datives, modern genitives after them
βάσει + genitive means “on the basis of” in (formal), legal, and administrative writing. The normal modern alternative is με βάση + accusative. Notice that the noun changes case when the construction changes.
Η αίτηση απορρίφθηκε βάσει των κριτηρίων που ορίζει ο νόμος.
i étisi aporífthike vási ton kritiríon pu orízi o nómos
The application was rejected on the basis of the criteria established by law. (formal / legal)
Απορρίψαμε την αίτηση με βάση τα κριτήρια του προγράμματος.
aporípsame tin étisi me vási ta kritíria tu proghrámatos
We rejected the application based on the program's criteria. (neutral alternative)
δυνάμει + genitive means “by virtue of” and is strongly (legal). Elsewhere, σύμφωνα με or με βάση is clearer.
Ο έλεγχος διενεργήθηκε δυνάμει της σχετικής υπουργικής απόφασης.
o élenchos dhienerghíthike dhinámi tis schetikís ipuryikís apófasis
The inspection was conducted by virtue of the relevant ministerial decision. (legal)
Ο έλεγχος έγινε σύμφωνα με τη σχετική απόφαση.
o élenchos éyine símfona me ti schetikí apófasi
The inspection was carried out in accordance with the relevant decision. (neutral alternative)
ένεκα and χάριν: cause and purpose
ένεκα + genitive gives a cause and is (literary) or markedly (formal). Ordinary speech uses λόγω or a clause with επειδή.
Η συνεδρίαση αναβλήθηκε ένεκα της αιφνίδιας απουσίας του προέδρου.
i sinedhríasi anavlíthike éneka tis efnídhias apusías tu proédhru
The meeting was postponed owing to the president's sudden absence. (formal / literary)
Η συνεδρίαση αναβλήθηκε επειδή έλειπε ξαφνικά ο πρόεδρος.
i sinedhríasi anavlíthike epidhí élipe ksafniká o próedhros
The meeting was postponed because the president was unexpectedly absent. (informal alternative)
χάριν + genitive expresses purpose or benefit, “for the sake of.” It survives in (academic) phrases such as χάριν συντομίας and the postposed formula παραδείγματος χάριν “for example.” That order is fixed; not every χάριν phrase can be reversed.
Χάριν συντομίας, παραλείπονται οι τεχνικές λεπτομέρειες.
chárin sindomías, paralíponde i technikés leptoméries
For the sake of brevity, the technical details are omitted. (academic)
Για να μην πολυλογούμε, θα παραλείψω τις τεχνικές λεπτομέρειες.
ya na min poliloghúme, tha paralípso tis technikés leptoméries
So as not to go on too long, I'll skip the technical details. (informal alternative)
Ορισμένες μορφές, παραδείγματος χάριν οι συντομογραφίες, εμφανίζονται μόνο σε έγγραφα.
orizménes morfés, paradhíghmatos chárin i sindomoghrafíes, emfanízonde móno se éngrafa
Some forms—for example, abbreviations—appear only in documents. (academic)
άνευ, περί, and πλην: fixed written formulas
άνευ + genitive means “without” and is largely confined to fixed (formal) phrases: άνευ όρων “unconditionally,” άνευ αποδοχών “unpaid,” άνευ προηγουμένου “unprecedented.” Everyday Greek uses χωρίς + accusative.
Η σύμβαση μπορεί να καταγγελθεί άνευ προειδοποίησης.
i símvasi borí na katayelthí ánef proidhopíisis
The contract may be terminated without notice. (formal / legal)
Μπορείς να φύγεις χωρίς προειδοποίηση;
borís na fíyis chorís proidhopíisi
Can you leave without warning? (informal)
περί + genitive remains in titles and set learned phrases meaning “concerning”: ο περί προστασίας δεδομένων νόμος. It is (formal) to (archaic). Ordinary prose uses για, σχετικά με, or an attributive phrase.
Τροποποιήθηκε ο νόμος περί προστασίας προσωπικών δεδομένων.
tropopiíthike o nómos perí prostasías prosopikón dhedhoménon
The law concerning the protection of personal data was amended. (formal / legal)
Άλλαξε ο νόμος για την προστασία των προσωπικών δεδομένων.
álakse o nómos ya tin prostasía ton prosopikón dhedhoménon
The law on protecting personal data changed. (neutral alternative)
πλην needs special caution: modern learned usage is not one productive “πλην + genitive” rule. The genitive survives in fixed phrases such as πλην ελαχίστων εξαιρέσεων and πλην αυτού, while subtraction can take an accusative (πλην τα έξοδα). For active use, choose εκτός από + accusative.
Πλην ελαχίστων εξαιρέσεων, οι αιτήσεις υποβλήθηκαν εμπρόθεσμα.
plin elachíston ekseréseon, i etísis ipovlíthikan embróthezma
With very few exceptions, the applications were submitted on time. (formal)
Εκτός από λίγες εξαιρέσεις, όλοι έστειλαν την αίτηση στην ώρα τους.
ektós apó líghes ekserésis, óli éstilan tin étisi stin óra tus
Apart from a few exceptions, everyone sent the application on time. (neutral alternative)
Common Mistakes
❌ Η απόφαση ελήφθη βάση των στοιχείων.
Incorrect — formal βάσει ends in -ει; otherwise use με βάση + accusative.
✅ Η απόφαση ελήφθη βάσει των στοιχείων.
i apófasi elífthi vási ton stichíon
The decision was taken on the basis of the evidence. (formal / legal)
❌ Η άδεια χορηγήθηκε άνευ αποδοχές.
Incorrect — άνευ takes a genitive complement in this fixed formal phrase.
✅ Η άδεια χορηγήθηκε άνευ αποδοχών.
i ádhia choryíthike ánef apodhochón
The leave was granted without pay. (formal / administrative)
❌ Ο έλεγχος έγινε δυνάμει τον νόμο.
Incorrect — δυνάμει is followed by the genitive: του νόμου.
✅ Ο έλεγχος έγινε δυνάμει του νόμου.
o élenchos éyine dhinámi tu nómu
The inspection was carried out by virtue of the law. (legal)
❌ Χάριν τη συντομία, παραλείπω τα παραδείγματα.
Incorrect — learned χάριν takes a genitive complement: συντομίας.
✅ Χάριν συντομίας, παραλείπω τα παραδείγματα.
chárin sindomías, paralípo ta paradhíghmata
For the sake of brevity, I omit the examples. (academic)
Key Takeaways
- Treat this entire layer as recognition-first and genre-bound, not as a productive way to make prose sound formal.
- βάσει and δυνάμει are frozen datives followed by modern genitives; με βάση + accusative is a different construction.
- Learn ένεκα, χάριν, άνευ, περί, and πλην inside their attested fixed phrases, together with their register.
Related Topics
- Genitive After Learned PrepositionsB1 — The closed set of formal prepositions — εναντίον, υπέρ, λόγω, μεταξύ, εντός, εκτός, μέσω, αντί, πλην, διά — that take the genitive instead of the accusative, why they all come from the written language, what the everyday σε-alternatives are, and the one place where a preposition can swallow a weak pronoun.
- Formal Connectors and PhrasingC1 — Build precise Greek essays, reports, and official correspondence with formal connectors chosen by logical relation.
- Katharevousa SurvivalsC1 — Recognize the frozen datives, learned participles, prepositions, genitives, and official formulas that survive in formal Modern Greek.
- The Lost Dative and Its ReplacementsB2 — Why Modern Greek has four cases instead of five — what the ancient dative did, how its work was split between the genitive, σε + accusative and με + accusative, why the north and the south divided the estate differently, and why the overloaded modern genitive is the direct consequence.
- Prepositional IdiomsC1 — Ten fixed Greek prepositional phrases for everyday, emphatic, and formal meanings that cannot be assembled word by word.