CYPRIOT GRAMMAR

Chapter 11: Adjectival Grades
In this very big chapter we shall be covering the other important functions of adjectives and that is of course degrees of comparison. We
shall also take a look into the irregular adjectives.
Like in any other language when it comes to adjectives, there two methods for comparison. The Comparative which denotes greater quality
or quantity than something else and the Superlative which denotes the greatest quality or quantity compared to all.
11.1 The Comparative Degree
The formation of this degree is simple in Cypriot and can be done in three ways:
11.1.1Α Superiority: The phrase ‘περίτου/πκιό....που....’
This method of comparison is very straight forward. The words ‘περίτου’ and ‘πκιο’ mean ‘more’ with the first being more frequently used in
casual speech and the second in more polite situations. The phrase ‘περίτου/πκιό....που....’ means ‘more…than…’.
General rule: Subject + ‘to be’ + περίτου/πκιό/παραπάνω + adjective + ‘που’ (+Accusative) + object
Φερειπείν
Τζ’είνη ένει περίτου όμορφη που τζ’είνην
That girl is more beautiful that that one there
Τούτον έν πκιό ακριβόν που τζ’είνον
This is more expensive than that
Τούτος ο άντρας έν περίτου μανιεράτος που τζ’είνον
This man is more polite than that one
11.1.1Β Superlative Adjectives: Using the suffix –ττερος, -ττερη, -ττερον
This method involves adding the suffixes above to the adjective. This corresponds to the English suffix –er for adjectives. Examples:
cleaner, thinner, cheaper etc. To form this method of comparison you drop the adjectival ending and add the suffix.
General rule: Subject + ‘to be’ + superlative adjective + ‘που’ (+Accusative) + object
Ι. -ος, -ας, -α, -ια, -ον, -ιν add –όττερος, ήττερη, όττερον
Φερειπείν
άσ’ημος -> ασ’ημ -> ασ’ημόττερος
σ’ίσκας -> σ’ισκόττερος
κατζ’ά -> κατζ’ -> κατζ’όττερη
όμορφον -> όμορφ -> ομορφόττερον
ΙΙ. –ης, -νης, -υς, -η, -ισσα, -ικον add –ύττερος, -ύττερη, -ύττερον
Φερειπείν
Πασ’ύς -> πασ’ -> πασ’ύττερος
Μισκίνης -> μισκίν -> μισκινύττερος
III. For this rule there are some irregular adjectives.
Κακός – σ’ειρρόττερος_____________Bad - worse
Καλός – καλλύττερος______________Good - better
Μιάλος – μιαλύττερος______________Big -bigger
Μιτσής – μιτσ’ιόττερος/μιτσ’ήττερος__Small - smaller
Πολύς – περίτου__________________Much/many – more
Αδρός - αδρύττερος
Χοντρός – χοντρύττερος
Άσπρος – ασπρύττερος
Κοντός - κοντύττερος
Examples
Τούτος ένει σ’ειρρόττερος που τούτον
This man is worse than this one
Τζ’είνη ένει ομορφόττερη που τζ’είνην
That girl is more beautiful that that one there
Τούτον εν καλλύττερον που τζ’είνον
This is better than that
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