Elementary Greek Grammar: PART II: INFLECTION: ADVERBS AND THEIR COMPARISON

§74-75

ADVERBS AND THEIR COMPARISON

ADVERBS AND THEIR COMPARISON

§ 74.

Adverbs are regularly formed from adjectives. Their form (including the accent) is found by changing ν of the genitive plural masculine to ς. E.g.

Φίλως, dearly, from φίλος; δικαίως, justly (δικαίων); σοφῶς, wisely (σοφῶν); ἡδέως, sweetly (ἡδύς, gen. plur. ἡδέων); ἀληθῶς, truly (ἀληθής, gen. plur. ἀληθέων, ἀληθῶν); σαφῶς (Ionic σαφέως), plainly (σαφής, gen. plur. σαφέων, σαφῶν); πάντως, wholly (πᾶς, gen. plur. πάντων).

Note. Adverbs are occasionally formed thus from participles; as διαφερόντως, differently, from διαφέρων (διαφερόντων); τεταγμένως, regularly, from τεταγμένος (τάσσω, order).

The neuter accusative of an adjective (either singular or plural) may be used as an adverb. E.g.

Πολύ and πολλά, much (πολύς); μέγα or μεγάλα, greatly (μέγας); also μεγάλως, § 74, 1; μόνον, only (μόνος, alone).

Note. Other forms of adverbs with various terminations will be learnt by practice. See § 129.

§ 75.

The neuter accusative singular of the comparative of an adjective forms the comparative of the corresponding adverb; and the neuter accusative plural of the superlative forms the superlative of the adverb. E.g.

Σοφῶς (σοφός), wisely; σοφώτερον, more wisely; σοφώτατα, most wisely. Ἀληθῶς (ἀληθής), truly; ἀληθέστερον, ἀληθέστατα. Ἡδέως (ἡδύς), sweetly; ἥδιον, ἥδιστα. Χαριέντως (χαρίεις), gracefully; χαριέστερον, χαριέστατα. Σωφρόνως (σώφρων), prudently; σωφρονέστερον, σωφρονέστατα.

Note 1. Other adverbs generally form a comparative in τέρω, and a superlative in τάτω; as ἄνω, above, ἀνωτέρω, ἀνωτάτω. A few comparatives derived from adjectives end in τέρως; as βεβαιότερως, more firmly, for βεβαιότερον, from βεβαίως.

Note 2. Μάλα, much, very, has comparative μᾶλλον (for μαλιον, § 16, 7), more, rather; superlative μάλιστα, most, especially.

§ 74.

1. Adverbs are regularly formed from adjectives. Their form (including the accent) is found by changing ν of the genitive plural masculine to ς. E.g.

Φίλως, dearly, from φίλος; δικαίως, justly (δικαίων); σοφῶς, wisely (σοφῶν); ἡδέως, sweetly (ἡδύς, gen. plur. ἡδέων); ἀληθῶς, truly (ἀληθής, gen. plur. ἀληθέων, ἀληθῶν); σαφῶς (Ionic σαφέως), plainly (σαφής, gen. plur. σαφέων, σαφῶν); πάντως, wholly (πᾶς, gen. plur. πάντων).

Note. Adverbs are occasionally formed thus from participles; as διαφερόντως, differently, from διαφέρων (διαφερόντων); τεταγμένως, regularly, from τεταγμένος (τάσσω, order).

2. The neuter accusative of an adjective (either singular or plural) may be used as an adverb. E.g.

Πολύ and πολλά, much (πολύς); μέγα or μεγάλα, greatly (μέγας); also μεγάλως, § 74, 1; μόνον, only (μόνος, alone).

Note. Other forms of adverbs with various terminations will be learnt by practice. See § 129.

§ 75.

The neuter accusative singular of the comparative of an adjective forms the comparative of the corresponding adverb; and the neuter accusative plural of the superlative forms the superlative of the adverb. E.g.

Σοφῶς (σοφός), wisely; σοφώτερον, more wisely; σοφώτατα, most wisely. Ἀληθῶς (ἀληθής), truly; ἀληθέστερον, ἀληθέστατα. Ἡδέως (ἡδύς), sweetly; ἥδιον, ἥδιστα. Χαριέντως (χαρίεις), gracefully; χαριέστερον, χαριέστατα. Σωφρόνως (σώφρων), prudently; σωφρονέστερον, σωφρονέστατα.

Note 1. Other adverbs generally form a comparative in τέρω, and a superlative in τάτω; as ἄνω, above, ἀνωτέρω, ἀνωτάτω. A few comparatives derived from adjectives end in τέρως; as βεβαιότερως, more firmly, for βεβαιότερον, from βεβαίως.

Note 2. Μάλα, much, very, has comparative μᾶλλον (for μαλιον, § 16, 7), more, rather; superlative μάλιστα, most, especially.