Modern Greek/Lesson 07.3
Lesson 7.3: Comparative and Superlative
[edit | edit source]Comparative
[edit | edit source]The comparative is formed in two ways, but which can not be applied to all adjectives:
a) With the word πιο (= more) and the adjective. It is this way which is used most, both orally and in writing. In some cases, in a typical style, it is used in its place the word πλέον, e.g.
Το αεροπλάνο είναι πιο γρήγορο από το τρένο. (=The plane is faster than the train).
Ο υπουργός αποδείχτηκε πλέον ενημερωμένος όλων των παρισταμένων.(=The minister turned out to be more informed than all those present). "Noun 1 (nominative) είναι πιο adjective από noun 2 (accusative)".
E.g. Το τραπέζι είναι πιο μεγάλο από την καρέκλα
The adjective has to agree with the first noun.
Comparisons
[edit | edit source]Comparisons of adjectives like -er and -est in English are expressed using the endings -τερος and -τατος:
| πλούσιος | rich |
| πλουσιότερος | richer |
| ο πλουσιότατος | the richest |
| ένας πλούσιος πολιτικός | a rich politician |
| ένας πλουσιότερος πολιτικός | a richer politician |
| ο πλουσιότατος πολιτικός | the richest politician |
| η πλουσιότατη βασίλισσα | the richest queen |
Note the shift in the accent toward the end of the word. The common word μεγάλος, big, has the irregular form μεγαλύτερος.
The word πιο can be used instead:
| Αυτός ο πολιτικός είναι πιο πλούσιος. | That politician is richer. |
| Αυτός ο πολιτικός είναι ο πιο πλούσιος. | That politician is the richest. |
Vocabulary:
| πολύ | much |
| πολλοί | many |
| πόσος | how much |
| πόσοι | how many |
| περισσότερος | more |
| ελάχιστος | least |
| λίγο | a little |
| λίγοι | a few |
| τόσο ... όσο ... | as ... as ... |
| κοντά | almost (used with numbers and amounts) |
| αρκετά | enough |
| πάρα πολύ | very much |
Superlative
[edit | edit source]To be completed.