36
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Introduction
As we have already learned, adjectives describe nouns and pronouns. In order to describe a noun or pronoun, an adjective must match the noun in gender, number and case.
Greek adjectives also have DEGREES:
- The POSITIVE degree refers to the quality or quantity conveyed by the meaning of the adjective
- tall, short
- The COMPARATIVE degree refers to MORE of the quality or quantity conveyed by the adjective
- taller, shorter
- The SUPERLATIVE degree refers to the MAXIMUM of the quality or quantity conveyed by the adjective
- tallest, shortest
Comparative and Superlative Degree: -τερος/-τατος
For most adjectives, the comparative degree is marked by adding -τερος -α -ον to the masculine stem of the positive degree. To mark the superlative degree, the endings -τατος -η -ον are added to the masculine stem. (S 313; GPH p. 35, ). For adjectives that have these endings, the PERSISTENT ACCENT is on the ANTEPENULT.
μωρός -ά -όν dull, stupid (masc. stem: μωρο-)
- Comparative: μωρότερος -α -ον
- Superlative: μωρότατος -η -ον
σοφός -ή -όν wise (masc. stem: σοφο-)
- Comparative: σοφώτερος -α -ον
- Superlative: σοφώτατος -η -ον
πιστός -ή -όν trusted (masc. stem: πιστο-)
- Comparative: πιστότερος -α -ον
- Superlative: πιστότατος -η -ον
ἀληθής -ές true (masc. stem: ἀληθεσ-)
- Comparative: ἀληθέστερος -α -ον
- Superlative: ἀληθέστατος -η -ον
βαρύς -εῖα -ύ heavy (masc. stem: βαρυ-)
- Comparative: βαρύτερος -α -ον
- Superlative: βαρύτατος -η -ον
Note that in the above examples, the final ο of masculine stems sometimes appears as ω before the addition of the τερ/τατ markers. Generally speaking, the LENGTH of this vowel is OPPOSITE the length of the preceding vowel:
- μωρότερος -α -ον
- σοφώτερος -α -ον
However, if the preceding stem vowel is followed by two consonants or a double consonant (e.g. ξ, ψ, ζ), ο appears regardless of the length of the preceding vowel:
- πιστότερος -α -ον
Comparative and Superlative Degree: -ίων/-ιστος
As in English, some Greek adjectives form their comparatives and superlatives differently. The most common alternative marker for the comparative degree is -(ί)ων -(ι)ον. We encountered this form in our previous discussion of adjectives. To review:
βελτίων -ιον (stem: βέλτιον-) better (S 293; GPH p. 11)
Singular
| M/F | N | |
| Nominative | βελτίων | βέλτιον |
| Genitive | βελτίονος | βελτίονος |
| Dative | βελτίονι | βελτίονι |
| Accusative | βελτίονα | βέλτιον |
Plural
| M/F | N | |
| Nominative | βελτίονες | βελτίονα |
| Genitive | βελτιόνων | βελτιόνων |
| Dative | βελτίοσι | βελτίοσι |
| Accusative | βελτίονας | βελτίονα |
Adjectives that form their comparative degree with -(ί)ων -(ι)ον usually form their superlative degree with -ιστος -η -ον. For adjectives that have these superlative endings, the PERSISTENT ACCENT is on the ANTEPENULT (e.g. βέλτιστος –η –ον).
In many cases, comparatives and superlatives that end in -(ί)ων /-ιστος are adjectives that, while comparative or superlativ