genitivecomparative

Genitivecomparative is a linguistic term describing a type of comparative construction in which the standard of comparison is expressed in the genitive case. In this pattern, an adjective or adverb signals a higher degree, and a noun phrase in the genitive marks what is being compared, rather than a separate clause or prepositional phrase introduced by a word like than. The genitive phrase may occur with or without an overt comparison marker, depending on the language.

Cross-linguistic usage: The genitive comparative is well documented in languages with a productive genitive system, especially many Slavic languages. In these languages, the genitive noun or pronoun following the comparative element serves as the benchmark of comparison, with inflection agreeing for the noun’s features. The genitive complement can involve numerals, determiners, or other modifiers and can attach to adjectives, adverbs, or degree words.

Distribution and variation: Some languages restrict the genitive comparative to a subset of adjectives or to formal varieties of speech; others extend it widely. In many cases, the genitive construction coexists with the periphrastic “than” construction, with the latter preferred in casual speech or in languages where the genitive form has become rare.

Historical and typological notes: The genitive comparative is often discussed as part of the broader study of case-based comparison strategies cross-linguistically. It illustrates how different languages encode the standard of comparison beyond a fixed word.

See also: comparison, genitive case, degree construction