COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

Latin 8

2019-2020

March 23 - March 27

DEGREES OF ADJECTIVESThere are three degrees of an adjective:

Positive: tall

Comparative: taller, more tall, rather tall

Superlative: tallest, most tall, very tall

The positive degree is the dictionary entry. Comparatives and superlatives must be formed from the positive degree.

POSITIVE DEGREE

1st / 2nd Declension

e.g. altus, alta, altum

3rd Declension

e.g. fēlix (gen. fēlicis)

The dictionary entry of an adjective.

Positive adjectives come in two varieties:

ADJECTIVE STEM

altus, alta, altum (tall): alt-

sacer, sacra, sacrum (sacred): sacr-

*For one termination adjectives,

drop the ending from the genitive form.

potēns (gen: potentis): potent-

fēlix (gen: fēlicis): fēlic-

The comparative adjective is formed from the stem of the adjective. To find the stem, go to the feminine form and drop the ending.

COMPARATIVE DEGREE

altus, alta, altum (tall):

altior (m/f), altius (n)

taller, more tall, rather tall

sacer, sacra, sacrum (holy):

sacrior (m/f), sacrius (n)

holier, more holy, rather holy

To form the comparative adjective, start with the adjective stem

and add the ending -ior for masculine/feminine and -ius for neuter.

COMPARATIVE DEGREE

fēlicior (m/f), fēlicius (n): happier

dulcior (m/f), dulcius (n): sweeter

facilior (m/f), facilius (n): easier

Hoc savillum dulcius quam illud est.

This cheesecake is sweeter than that one.

Comparative adjectives are 3rd declension adjectives. Because there is one masculine/feminine form and one neuter form,

they are two termination adjectives.

DECLINING COMPARATIVESComparative adjectives are third declension, but they do not use the i-stem

forms of other third declension adjectives. They use the same endings as regular third declension nouns.

Sg Masc / Fem NeuterNom. dulcior dulciusGen. dulciōris dulciōrisDat. dulciōrī dulciōrīAcc. dulciōrem dulciusAbl. dulciōre dulciōre

Pl Masc / Fem NeuterNom. dulciōrēs dulciōraGen. dulciōrum dulciōrumDat. dulciōribus dulciōribusAcc. dulciōrēs dulciōraAbl. dulciōribus dulciōribus

SUPERLATIVE DEGREE

clārus, clāra, clārum (famous):

clārissimus, -a, -um

most famous, very famous

frīgidus, frīgida, frīgidum (cold):

frīgidissimus, -a, -um

coldest, very cold

To form the superlative adjective, start with the adjective stem

and add the endings -issimus (m), -issima (f), -issimum (n).

DECLINING SUPERLATIVESSuperlative adjectives are 1st / 2nd declension adjectives. They follow the

normal pattern for first and second declension nouns and adjectives.

Sg Masculine Feminine NeuterNom

.dulcissimus dulcissima dulcissimum

Gen. dulcissimī dulcissimae dulcissimīDat. dulcissimō dulcissimae dulcissimōAcc. dulcissimum dulcissimam dulcissimumAbl. dulcissimō dulcissimā dulcissimō

Pl Masculine Feminine NeuterNom

.dulcissimī dulcissimae dulcissima

Gen. dulcissimōrum dulcissimārum dulcissimōrumDat. dulcissimīs dulcissimīs dulcissimīsAcc. dulcissimōs dulcissimās dulcissimaAbl. dulcissimīs dulcissimīs dulcissimīs

IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES

1. -RIMUS superlatives

2. -LIMUS superlatives

3. Totally irregular

Every great rule has a few exceptions. We will put all adjectives that do not follow the basic rules into three categories:

Each category is explained on the following slides.

1. -RIMUS SUPERLATIVESAny adjective ending in -er in the masculine form forms its superlative

degree by adding -rimus, -a, -um directly onto the -er form. No stem!

Sg Masculine Feminine NeuterNom

.miserrimus miserrima miserrimum

Gen. miserrimī miserrimae miserrimīDat. miserrimō miserrimae miserrimōAcc. miserrimum miserrimam miserrimumAbl. miserrimō miserrimā miserrimō

Pl Masculine Feminine NeuterNom

.miserrimī miserrimae miserrima

Gen. miserrimōrum miserrimārum miserrimōrumDat. miserrimīs miserrimīs miserrimīsAcc. miserrimōs miserrimās miserrimaAbl. miserrimīs miserrimīs miserrimīs

2. -LIMUS SUPERLATIVESSix special adjectives form their superlative by adding -limus, -a, -um

(facilis, difficilis, similis, dissilimis, gracilis, humilis)

Sg Masculine Feminine NeuterNom

.facillimus facillima facillimum

Gen. facillimī facillimae facillimīDat. facillimō facillimae facillimōAcc. facillimum facillimam facillimumAbl. facillimō facillimā facillimō

Pl Masculine Feminine NeuterNom

.facillimī facillimae facillima

Gen. facillimōrum facillimārum facillimōrumDat. facillimīs facillimīs facillimīsAcc. facillimōs facillimās facillimaAbl. facillimīs facillimīs facillimīs

3. TOTALLY IRREGULARSome adjectives are completely irregular in the comparative and

superlative degrees and must simply be memorized.

Positive Comparative (m/f) Comparative (n) Superlative

bonus, -a, -um melior melius optimus, -a, -um

malus, -a, -um peior peius pessimus, -a, -um

magnus, -a, -um maior maius maximus, -a, -um

parvus, -a, -um minor minus minimus, -a, -um

Positive Comparative (m/f) Comparative (n) Superlative

good better better best

bad worse worse worst

big bigger bigger biggest

small smaller smaller smallest

COMPARATIVES IN SENTENCESWhen comparatives are used in sentences, they are often seen with these constructions.

Quam with Comparatives

Hic canis celerior quam ille canis est.This dog is faster than that dog.

Ablative of Comparison

Hic canis celerior illō cane est.This dog is faster than that dog.

Ille canis

Hic canis

SUPERLATIVES IN SENTENCESWhen superlatives are used in sentences, they are often seen with this construction.

Quam with Superlatives

Hoc savillum quam dulcissimum est.This cheesecake is very very sweet.(as sweet as possible / as sweet as can be)