Adjective – Comparative

ObjectivesLearning objectives

• The morphology, syntax, and semantics of comparative adjectives

VocabularyVocabulary

MorphologyMorphology: Adjective – Comparatives (regular -οτερος, α, ον)

• Regular comparative adjectives are formed by adding the suffix -οτερος to the stem
• The ending of the suffix changes according to the regular -ος/α/ον adjective pattern (see 17.3.3.1; note the α ending for the fem rather than η due to the ρ), e.g. ἰσχυρότερος, ἰσχυροτέρα, ἰσχυρότερον

SyntaxSyntax: Adjective – Comparatives

Because it is used to compare two things, the comparative must be used when one individual or group of individuals is related to another. Lydia is stronger always means that Lydia is stronger than someone else. Who is being compared may not be explicit (it may be clear from the context), but it is always at least implied. When the individual or group is explicitly given, it will appear in the genitive:

SemanticsSemantics: Adjective – Comparatives (1 – Comparing scalar properties)

There are two important things to remember about the meaning of comparatives. First, we are comparing two degrees of a single property possessed by two things. We are not necessarily comparing two entities absolutely, but only a property each has, such as height in an adjective like taller. These properties are normally measured along a scale (see Sem A). The second thing to remember is that comparatives make reference to a comparison set, i.e. individual(s) being compared to someone else. If the two things being compared are not explicitly given, the comparison set must be determined by context. These abstract notions are best explained with a real example:

Beginning with the comparison set, John is comparing himself to someone coming after him. The one coming after John is ἰσχυρότερος than him. This does not mean that John is not also ἰσχυρός—it only means that the one coming after him has more ἰσχυρότης ‘strength’. But what property is being compared exactly? The context does not lend itself to the interpretation of physical strength. We should not conclude from this that Jesus could do more push-ups than John. Rather, the property being referred to seems to be something like spiritual authority. This is why John says he is not worthy to even untie Jesus’s sandals. Importantly, we cannot conclude from this statement that Jesus is physically stronger than John. The comparative is only comparing one property, spiritual authority, and nothing else, and John says that Jesus has more of this than him.