η κρεβατοκάμαρα ήταν μια κάμαρα σκοτεινή

[Theseus]

I should like some guidance on the position of the adjective in modern Greek. I have seen this type of sentence many times & I wonder if there is a rule, governing this position of the epithet. Here is another example,where two adjectives are used in different positions:-
-αυτή η χώρα παράγει, αν δεν κάνω λάθος, κρασιά εκλεκτά και άλλα ωραία ποτά.

After the verb 'to be' is there any necessity to use the definite/indefinite article? Thus, could η κρεβατοκάμαρα ήταν σκοτεινή/σκοτεινή κάμαρα be adequate but such a sentence sounds like an attempt at beginners' Greek & lacks the balance & euphony of the above examples. Does spoken Greek always use the epithet before the noun, except in stock phrases, like the English 'a court martial' & the original 'knights of the table round'?

 

[Palavra]

Hi, Theseus!

The position of the adjective in your phrase Η κρεβατοκάμαρα ήταν σκοτεινή is that of a predicate.

In the sentence Η κρεβατοκάμαρα ήταν μια κάμαρα σκοτεινή, the adjective σκοτεινή can be placed both before and after the noun. If it's placed after the noun, it just adds a small emphasis. The same goes for κρασιά εκλεκτά: you can say εκλεκτά κρασιά without affecting the meaning of the phrase in any manner whatsoever; however, if you place the adjective after the noun, you will be adding, once again, a small emphasis on the quality of the wines.

 

[Theseus]

Ευχαριστώ, Παλαβρα! Είναι άραγε απαραίτητο το αόριστο άρθρο 'μια' σε μια τέτοια πρόταση;:)

 

[AoratiMelani]

Ναι, είναι απαραίτητο.

Ακριβώς όπως και στην αντίστοιχη αγγλική: The bedroom was a dark room.

 

[daeman]

...
Μήπως είδατε το σκύλο μου μικρό;

Έχετε αρχίσει όλοι να μου θυμίζετε αυτούς εδώ τους τύπους:

~ Devil Daeman incarnate

---

Post-positive adjectives

Btw, last night was white again for me (nuit blanche) because of the "sword unbreakable", the "breastplate impenetrable" and the "helmet invulnerable":

Spoiler

 

[TheGreatUniter]

It would sound slightly unatural or eccentric at least to the average individual that has Modern Greek as his mother tongue, but there nothing to worry about. You will live. I am all about eccentricity in my usage of the Modern Greek tongue. I don't follow the hive mind.

Again, "euphony" is actually in fact something subjective and I can't see what you mean by "balance" either.

 

[Theseus]

Thanks, The GreatUniter. I don't agree about euphony. Some lines from the beginning of Tennyson's Lotos Eaters are indubitably euphonious:-
All round the coast the languid air did swoon,
Breathing like one that hath a weary dream.
And these lines from Coleridge's Rime to the Ancient Mariner are cacophonous:-
With throats unslaked, with black lips baked,
Agape they heard me call.”
To say something is subjective is meant to be an objective statement & involves falling into a philosophical trap.
By 'balance' I was referring in the above question to the figure of speech called chiasmus: in the Greek example it referred to noun adjective, adjective noun - abba.