comparative between two members

Greek Learning Greek
1

Hi, I’m working through Chase and Phillips, Chapter 9.

Concerning the comparative adjective between two members: is this always with the neuter ending -ion? If not, when is the masculine and feminine -iwn used?

For example: demokratia kreitton turannidos. Democracy is stronger than tyranny.

Thanks.

2

Hi,

Is ‘demokratia kreitton turannidos’ an example taken from Chase & Phillips?

If so, does ‘kreitton’ look like this:

κρεῖττον

or like this:

κρείττων ?

Cordially,

Paul

3

Hi, it is an example from Chase and Phillips’ 9th chapter and it has an omicron, as in the neuter comparative. This I think would be your former example.

Thanks.

4

Thanks. I looked for but could not find my copy of Chase & Phillips.

The main thing to understand here is that the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives remain…adjectives. As such they will generally agree with their substantives in gender, number, and case.

If I understand your original question, the answer is ‘no’, the gender of the comparative adjective will not always be neuter. The adjective will take its gender from the substantive it modifies or complements.

Because of an apparent violation of concord, this is not readily apparent in the sentence you quoted. When a predicate adjective refers to an abstract substantive (or at least it doesn’t refer to an individual thing) AND that substantive is masculine or feminine singular, then the adjective may be neuter.

If we replace the abstract subject [size=150]δημοκρατία [/size] with a concrete noun giving, for example, “Socrates is stronger than tyranny”, then the masculine, nominative comparative [size=150]κρείττων[/size] would have been used instead of the neuter.

If this isn’t clear, please let me know.

Cordially,

Paul

5

This is clear.

Thanks for the help!