LESSON ELEVEN: COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES AND FORMATION OF ADVERBS

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1 LESSON ELEVEN: COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES AND FORMATION OF ADVERBS Memorization of Vocabulary Eleven ἀγαθος ἁγιος ἁγνος ἀληθης ἀξιος δεισδαιµων διαβολος δικαιος ἐσθλος ἡδυς κακος καρδια µεγας µικρος ὀλιγος ὁµοιος οὑτος πικρος πολυς πονηρος ραδιος ταχυς τίς τις φοβερος good holy, set apart pure, holy, chaste true worthy religious devil righteous noble, good sweet, pleasant bad heart great small few like, similar this bitter much, many. The comparative (more) is πλειων, with µαλλον (with no positive form we know) also used to mean more wicked easy swift who? anyone fearful A. Introduction So far in our study of the noun, adjective and some other related matters, we have used the forms of λογος, ἀρχη & ἡµερα and ἐργον as the base for the study of other forms. In addition to these four words, we would like to introduce a fifth word here. The word is τις which serves for both interrogative (who?) and indefinite pronoun (anyone), differentiated only by accent. This fifth word (needing memorization at this point) will be examined again later in the context of pronouns. For the moment our interest is only in its forms, which are: 1

2 Masculine and Feminine (the same forms serves both the masculine and feminine) Nom. τίς τίν/ες Acc. τίν/α τίν/ας Gen. τίν/ος τίν/ων Dat. τίν/ι τί/σι(ν) Neuter Nom. τί τίν/α Acc. τί τίν/α Gen. τίν/ος τίν/ων Dat. τίν/ι τί/σι(ν) We will now examine the matters of comparison of adjectives and the formation of adverbs. So long as the forms of the five words (λογος, εργον, αρχη, ηµερα and τις) have been memorized, all that we need to do is to relate the forms of what follows with those of the five words, as applicable. B. Comparison of Adjectives Just as an English adjective like tall forms its comparative by adding er (taller) and superlative by adding est (tallest) so also regular Greek adjective form their comparative by adding - τερος and superlative by adding τατος. In this process, however, the final ς of the positive degree (δικαιο/ς) is not included. Thus, for an adjective δικαιος ( righteous ), the comparative and superlative endings specified above are added to δικαιο. The comparative would be δικαιο/τερος ( more righteous ) and the superlative δικαιο/τατος ( most righteous ). This, being masculine forms, it would be used with masculine nouns. Also, being nominative, it would be used with nouns serving as subject in a given sentence. The accusative form would be used with nouns serving as direct object, the genitive form with genitive nouns (idea of possession), and the dative form with dative nouns serving as indirect object (idea of to and for ). Their (comparative and superlative) difference in endings is in the feminine forms where the comparative is declined like ἡµερα while the superlative is declined like ἀρχη. Their full forms (using δικαιος which is an example of those which follow this regular pattern) are: 1. The Comparative degree forms 2

3 a. Masculine forms (declined exactly like λογος) Nominative δικαιοτερ/ος δικαιοτερ/οι (more righteous) Accusative δικαιοτερ/ον δικαιοτερ/ους (more righteous) Genitive δικαιοτερ/ου δικαιοτερ/ων (of more righteous) Dative δικαιοτερ/ῳ δικαιοτερ/οις (to, for more righteous) b. Feminine forms (declined like ηµερα) Nominative δικαιοτερ/α δικαιοτερ/αι (more righteous) Accusative δικαιοτερ/αν δικαιοτερ/ας (more righteous) Genitive δικαιοτερ/ας δικαιοτερ/ων (of more righteous) Dative δικαιοτερ/ᾳ δικαιοτερ/αις (to, for more righteous) c. Neuter forms (declined like εργον) Nominative δικαιοτερ/ον δικαιοτερ/α (more righteous) Accusative δικαιοτερ/ον δικαιοτερ/α (more righteous) Genitive δικαιοτερ/ου δικαιοτερ/ων (of more righteous) Dative δικαιοτερ/ῳ δικαιοτερ/οις (to, for more righteous) 2. The superlative degree forms a. Masculine forms (declined like λογος) Nominative δικαιοτατ/ος δικαιοτατ/οι (most righteous) Accusative δικαιοτατ/ον δικαιοτατ/ους (most righteous) Genitive δικαιοτατ/ου δικαιοτατ/ων (of most righteous) Dative δικαιοτατ/ῳ δικαιοτατ/οις (to, for most righteous) b. Feminine forms (declined like αρχη) Nominative δικαιοτατ/η δικαιοτατ/αι (most righteous) Accusative δικαιοτατ/ην δικαιοτατ/ας (most righteous) Genitive δικαιοτατ/ης δικαιοτατ/ων (of most righteous) Dative δικαιοτατ/ῃ δικαιοτατ/αις (to/for most righteous) 3

4 c. Neuter forms (declined like εργον) Nominative δικαιοτατ/ον δικαιοτατ/α (most righteous) Accusative δικαιοτατ/ον δικαιοτατ/α (most righteous) Genitive δικαιοτατ/ου δικαιοτατ/ων (of most righteous) Dative δικαιοτατ/ῳ δικαιοτατ/οις (to, for most righteous) While the above pattern is followed by most Greek adjectives, there are some peculiarities we must keep in mind. Thus: 3. Further Notes on Comparison of adjectives a. With some adjectives which follow this regular pattern of τερος and τατος, the final ο lengthens to ω before the addition of comparative or superlative endings. An example is αγιο/ς whose comparative and superlative forms are ἁγιω/τερος and ἁγιω/τατος, respectively. The principle is Given that the stem ends in -ο (δικαιο, αγιο, σοφο etc) when this final ο is preceded by short vowel (in the case of αγιος this being ι since the syllables are α/γι/ος) the ο of the stem (αγιο/ς) lengthens to ω. With δι/και/ος the ο is preceded by a diphthong and so this principle will not apply to it. See a fuller statement of this principle under note below but keep in mind this does not affect the endings as learned under δικαιος above. Comparative Masculine: ἁγιωτερος ἁγιωτεροι, etc.(endings follow δικαιοτερος) Feminine: ἁγιωτερα ἁγιωτεραι, etc. (cf. δικαιοτερα above) Neuter: ἁγιωτερον ἁγιωτερα, etc. (cf. δικαιοτερον) Superlative: Masculine: ἁγιωτατος ἁγιωτατοι, etc. (cf. δικαιοτατος) Feminine: ἁγιωτατη ἁγιωταται, etc. (cf. δικαιοτατη) Neuter: ἁγιωτατον ἁγιωτατα, etc. (cf. δικαιοτατον) Note: Lengthening of the ο does not occur if the preceding syllable, that is, the penult 1 (since the ο belongs to the ultima) (1) has a long vowel or diphthong (for example, πο/νη/ρος and δι/και/ος - see above), (2) contains a short vowel followed by double consonant 2 or (3) has a short vowel followed by two or more 1 The three most crucial syllables in Greek are the last three in a given word. The last one is referred to as ultima, the second last as penult, and the third last antepenult. 2 Double consonants include ζ [dz], ξ [ks], and ψ [ps], 4

5 consonants (for example, πι/κρ/ος). In other places, it should be expected. b. There is a number of irregular adjectives (asking for memorization) just as good in English would not be gooder, goodest, but better, best. Some of the common ones (those underlined, in comparative column, are the more frequent comparative forms) are: Positive Comparative Superlative ἀγαθος (good) κρεισσων, κρειττων, βελτιων κρατιστος (best) κακος (bad) χειρων, ἥσσων, ἥττων not used Not used µαλλον (more) 3 µαλιστα (most) µεγας (great) µειζων, µειζοτερος µεγιστος (greatest) µικρος (small) µικροτερος (note the superlative) ἐλαχιστος (smallest) ὀλιγος (few) ὀλειζων, ὀλειζον ὀλιγστος (fewest) πολυς (much, many) πλειων, πλεων πλειστος (most) ῥᾴδιος (easy) ῥᾴων, ῥᾴον ῥᾴστος (easiest) ταχυς (swift) θαττων, θαττον ταχιστος (swiftest) c. If a stem ends in ον, the addition for the comparative is - εστερος and for the superlative - εστατος. An example of these is δεισιδαιµων (religious; its stem is δεισιδαιµον ) whose comparative is δεισδαιµον/εστερος and its superlative (not found in the New Testament) δεισδαιµον/εστατος d. Another peculiar pattern is the dropping of the last vowel of the stem and in its stead add ιων for comparative and ιστος for the superlative. An example of these is ἡδυς (sweet, not found in the New Testament). It drops the υ giving ἡδιων for comparative and ἡδιστος for superlative. The neuter of the superlative is found in the NT (ἡδιστα - 2 Corinthians 12:9, 15) but used as adverb (most gladly, with the greatest pleasure) e. Other details about the which adjectives we need to keep in mind include: 1) In the New Testament, the comparative is at times used to stand for the superlative, making the superlative not frequent in the NT. 2) Genitive case is used for the noun or pronoun the comparison is made of. For example, θεος µειζων διαβολου (God is greater than devil) Amen?! In 1 John 3:19 we have µειζων ἐστιν ὁ θεος της καρδιας ἡµων... (God is greater than our hearts). The genitive case is used for our hearts. 3 µαλλον is frequently used as an adverb. As adverb, it qualifies a verb (I love more) while as adjective it qualifies noun (more love). The usual adjective for more as an adjective, however, is πλειων (the comparative of πολυς - much) 5

6 3) The word for than is ἤ. When it is used, the two things compared have the same case. It is when it is omitted that the second member of the comparison is put in the genitive case (see no. 2 preceding). In 1 John 4:4 we have µειζων ἐστιν ὁ ἐν ὑµιν ἤ ὁ ἐν τῳ κοσµῳ (greater is he in you than he in the world). The two use of the article (ὁ), used here as personal pronoun, are in the same case (nominative) in both phrases. 4) When the comparative which ends in ων (for example, µειζων) is declined, it follows the pattern: a. Masculine (relate them to the forms of τις; where there are 2 forms focus on the first one) Nominative µειζων µειζον/ες, µειζους (greater) Accusative µειζον/α and µειζω µειζον/ας and µειζους (greater) Genitive µειζον/ος µειζον/ων (of greater) Dative µειζον/ι µειζο/σι(ν) (to, for greater) 2. Feminine same as masculine 3. Neuter (relate them to the forms of τι) Nominative µειζον µειζον/α, µειζω (greater) Accusative µειζον µειζον/α, µειζω (greater) Genitive µειζον/ος µειζον/ων (of greater) Dative µειζον/ι µειζο/σι(ν) (to, for greater) 4. Formation of Adverbs Just as many adverbs are formed in English by adding ly to an adjective (for example, quick to quickly ), so also in Greek, a number of adverbs are formed by replacing the -ων of masculine genitive plural with ως. For example, Adjective Genitive plural (masculine) Adverbs καλος (good) καλων (of good) καλως (well) ὁµοιος (like) ὁµοιων (of like) ὁµοιως (similarly) ἀληθης (true) ἀληθων (of true) ἀληθως (truly) οὐτος (this) τουτων (of these) οὐτως (thus, so) ἁγνος (holy, pure) ἁγνων (of pure, holy) ἁγνως (purely, saintly) (note absence of the τ of the genitive, in the adverb of οὐτος) The comparative and superlative of adverbs are provided as follows: 6

7 a. comparative of adverb neuter accusative singular of the comparative of the adjective. That is, δικαιοτερον (more righteously) for δικαιος. b. superlative of adverb neuter accusative plural of the superlative of the adjective. That is, δικαιοτατα (most righteously) for δικαιος. c. We need to note that the adverb of ἀγαθος (good) is ευ (well), not ἀγαθως. The comparative better is κρεισσον Exercise eleven (related to comparison of adjectives and formation of adverbs) Give the comparative, the superlative and adverb forms (together with their meanings) of the following adjectives: Positive Comparative Superlative Adverb πονηρος (wicked) ἐσθλος (noble) πικρος (bitter) ἀξιος (worthy) φοβερος (fearful) Samuel M. Ngewa Africa International University 7

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