Introduction#

Declension#

Almost all [[Adjectives|adjectives]] in [[./index|Modern Greek]] [[TODO|decline]] for [[TODO|gender]], [[TODO|case]] and [[TODO|number]]. Almost all [[Adjectives|adjectives]] keep the [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] on the same [[Orthography and Phonology#Syllabification|syllable]] throughout.

The most common type of [[Adjectives|adjectives]] are those in -ος, -η / -α / -ια, -ο. They use the same endings as [[Nouns#Masculine Nouns|masculine nouns]] in -ος for the [[TODO|masculine]], [[Nouns#Feminine Nouns|feminine nouns]] in -η / -α / -ια for the [[TODO|feminine]] and [[Nouns#Neuter Nouns|neuter nouns]] in -ο.
- All [[Adjectives|adjectives]] of this type with a stem ending in any [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stressed]] [[Orthography and Phonology#Vowels|vowel]] or /i/ (whether [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stressed]] or not) use the -α, -ας endings.
- Almost all [[Adjectives|adjectives]] of this type with a stem ending in a [[Orthography and Phonology#Consonants|consonant]] or an [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|unstressed]] [[Orthography and Phonology#Vowels|vowel]] other than /i/ use the -η, -ης endings.
- Very few [[Adjectives|adjectives]] of this type must use the -ια, -ιας endings. For most of these, the alternative forms in -η, -ης are more common.

The [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] remains on the same [[Orthography and Phonology#Syllabification|syllable]] throughout.

[[Adjectives|Adjectives]] in -ής, -ιά, -ί differ from those in -ύς, -ιά, -ύ only in the spelling of the [[Orthography and Phonology#Vowels|vowel]] /i/ in the [[TODO|masculine]] and [[TODO|neuter]] endings. Usually, these denote colors or materials and are derived from [[Nouns|nouns]].

[[Adjectives|Adjectives]] in -ης, -ες have identical forms for the [[TODO|masculine]] and [[TODO|feminine]]. All [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|oxytone]] [[Adjectives|adjectives]] of this type remain such throughout. Most [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|paroxytone]] ones with three or more [[Orthography and Phonology#Syllabification|syllables]] are [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|proparoxytone]] in the [[TODO|neuter]] [[TODO|singular]] (except in the [[TODO|genitive]]). [[Adjectives|Adjectives]] in -ώδης, -ώδες do not undergo this shift in [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] but become [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|oxytone]] in the [[TODO|genitive]] [[TODO|plural]].

[[Adjectives|Adjectives]] in -ης, -α, -ικα are never used in the [[TODO|feminine]] [[TODO|genitive]] [[TODO|plural]].

[[Adjectives|Adjectives]] in -ων, -ουσα, -ον keep the [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] on the same [[Orthography and Phonology#Syllabification|syllable]] throughout, except in the [[TODO|genitive]] [[TODO|plural]], where it moves to the ending.

[[Adjectives|Adjectives]] in -ων, -oν have identical forms for the [[TODO|masculine]] and [[TODO|feminine]]. They keep the [[Orthography and Phonology#Accent|stress]] on the same [[Orthography and Phonology#Syllabification|syllable]] throughout, except in the [[TODO|genitive]] [[TODO|plural]], where it moves to the ending.

Degree#

[[Adjectives|Adjectives]] in [[./index|Modern Greek]] have four possible [[TODO|degrees]] (positive, comparative, relative superlative, absolute superlative) which are used to express the intensity of the property / quality described.

Positive Degree#

The positive [[Adjectives#Degree|degree]] simply indicates that a particular quality is present, without referring to intensity, similarly to the English "small" or "beautiful". Almost all [[Adjectives|adjectives]] have a form for the [[Adjectives#Positive Degree|positive degree]] and, if it exists, this is the form given in dictionaries. The vast majority of [[Adjectives|adjectives]] in the [[Adjectives#Positive Degree|positive degree]] [[Adjectives#Declension|decline]] for [[TODO|gender]], [[TODO|case]] and [[TODO|number]]. Those which do not are called indeclinable.

Comparative Degree#

The comparative [[Adjectives#Degree|degree]] shows a greater intensity of a given quality than the [[Adjectives#Positive Degree|positive degree]]. It is used in comparisons and is roughly equivalent to the English "smaller" or "more beautiful". The [[Adjectives#Degree|comparative degree]] is formed from the [[Adjectives#Positive Degree|positive]] in one of two ways, although not all [[Adjectives|adjectives]] have both ways available and some also show irregularities. There is no difference in meaning between the two ways, however.

The first and by far most common way is periphrastically via the word "πιο" before the [[Adjectives#Positive Degree|positive degree]]. In formal contexts, "πλέον" is used instead. All [[Adjectives|adjectives]] can build the [[Adjectives#Degree|comparative degree]] in this way, except those for which a [[Adjectives#Degree|comparative degree]] logically does not make sense anyway (e.g. it does not make sense to say "more golden").

The second way to construct the [[Adjectives#Degree|comparative degree]] is synthetically via the addition of a variation of the suffix -τερος, -η, -ο to the stem of the [[Adjectives#Positive Degree|positive degree]]. The exact variation depends on the [[Adjectives#Declension|declension]] paradigm of the [[Adjectives#Positive Degree|positive degree]] and is only available for the following types of [[Adjectives|adjectives]]:
- Those in -ος, -η / -α, -ο add -ότερος, -η, -ο;
- Those in -ύς, -ιά / -εία, -ύ / -ί add -ύτερος, -η, -ο;
- Those in -ης, -ης, -ες add -έστερος, -η, -ο;
- Those in -ων, -ον add -ονέστερος, -η, -ο;

This ending [[Adjectives#Declension|declines]] just like [[Adjectives#Declension|adjectives]] in -ος, -η, -ο.

Making Comparisons#

The comparisons are made using the comparative degree and "από" which translates to the word "than" in English. The noun to which we compare is always in the accusative.

If [[Pronouns#Personal Pronouns|personal pronouns]] are used with the adjectives καλύτερος, μεγαλύτερος, μικρότερος, ανώτερος, κατώτερος, then the construction "από + accusative" can be replaced by the genitive [[Pronouns#Personal Pronouns|personal pronoun]].

Relative Superlative Degree#

The relative superlative [[Adjectives#Degree|degree]] indicates the greatest possible intensity. It is similar to the English "the smallest" and "the most beautiful".

It is constructed from the [[Adjectives#Comparative Degree|comparative degree]] via the use of the [[Articles#The Definite Article|definite article]]. [[Adjectives|Adjectives]] which have two possible ways of forming the [[Adjectives#Comparative Degree|comparative]] thus also have two possible ways of forming the [[Adjectives#Relative Superlative Degree|relative superlative]].

Absolute Superlative Degree#

The absolute superlative [[Adjectives#Degree|degree]] is used to indicate an exceptional property or quality, without making a direct comparison with something else. It is similar to the English "very small" or "most beautiful".

There are two ways of forming the [[Adjectives#Degree|absolute superlative degree]], although not all [[Adjectives|adjectives]] have both ways available and some also show irregularities.

The first way is periphrastically via the word "πολύ" and the [[Adjectives#Positive Degree|positive degree]]. Additionally, "πάρα" may also be used before "πολύ" for more emphasis.

The second way is synthetically via the addition of a variation of the suffix -τατος, -η, -ο to the stem of the [[Adjectives#Positive Degree|positive degree]]. The exact variation depends on the [[Adjectives#Declension|declension]] paradigm of the [[Adjectives#Positive Degree|positive degree]] and is only available for the following types of [[Adjectives|adjectives]]:
- Those in -ος, -η / -α, -ο add -ότατος, -η, -ο;
- Those in -ύς, -ιά / -εία, -ύ / -ί add -ύτατος, -η, -ο;
- Those in -ης, -ης, -ες add -έτατος, -η, -ο;
- Those in -ων, -ον add -ονέστατος, -η, -ο;

Sources#

1. Greek: A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Language