Degrees of Adjectives

In Latin, the degrees of adjectives are the same that exist in English: positive, comparative, and superlative. The positive degree of an adjective is the basic form of the adjective. For example, big, small, red, beautiful, easy. When comparing a person/thing with just one other, the comparative degree is used. For example: bigger, smaller, redder, more beautiful, and easier. When comparing a person/thing with two or more others, the superlative is employed. For example: biggest, smallest, reddest, most beautiful, and easiest.

You have already learned positive degrees of adjectives in Latin: 1st/2nd declension adjectives and third declension adjectives. The formula for forming the comparative degree of an adjective = base of the positive (take the genitive singular and subtract the ending) + ior (m/f), ius (n). For example, longus -a -um becomes longior, longius; fortis -e becomes fortior, fortius; felix -icis becomes felicior, felicius; sapiens becomes sapientior, sapientius. The translation for comparative degree adjectives includes: -er, more, rather, and too. The declension of comparative degree adjectives follows third declension endings. For example:

Singular Plural m/f n m/f n Nom fortior, fortius Nom fortiores, fortiora Gen fortioris Gen fortiorum Dat fortiori Dat fortioribus Acc fortiorem, fortius Acc fortiores, fortiora Abl fortiore Abl fortioribus

The formula for forming the superlative degree of an adjective = base of the positive + issimus -a -um. For example, longus -a -um becomes longissimus -a -um; fortis -e becomes fortissimus -a -um; felix -icis becomes felicissimus -a -um; sapiens becomes sapientissimus -a -um. The translation for the superlative degree adjective includes: -est, most, and very. The declension of superlative degree adjectives follows 1st/2nd declension endings. For example:

f m n Nom fortissima fortissimus fortissimum Gen fortissimae fortissimi fortissimi Dat fortissimae fortissimo fortissimo Acc fortissimam fortissimum fortissimum Abl fortissima fortissimo fortissimo

Nom fortissimae fortissimi fortissima Gen fortissimarum fortissimorum fortissimorum Dat fortissimis fortissimis fortissimis Acc fortissimas fortissimos fortissima Abl fortissimis fortissimis fortissimis

2 Exceptions to the rules 1. Adjectives ending in -er (liber, pulcher) form the superlative by adding rimus -a -um directly to the -er, not to the stem. For example: pulcher -ra -rum becomes pulchrior, ius and pulcherrimus -a -um; liber -a -um becomes liberior, ius and liberrimus -a -um; acer acris acre becomes acrior, ius and acerrimus -a -um.

2. Six adjectives ending in -lis form the superlative by adding limus -a -um to the stem. For example: Facilis -e becomes facilior, ius and facillimus -a -um; difficilis -e becomes difficilior, ius and difficillimus -a -um.

Those six adjectives include: facilis, difficilis, similis, dissimilis, gracilis, and humilis. All other -lis adjectives follow the original formula. Irregular Adjectives Some adjectives in both English and Latin are irregular adjectives. This means that when we go to change them to their comparative and superlative forms, the base of the ending changes to a different base. For example, in English, good becomes better and best; bad becomes worse and worst; much becomes more and most. There is no formula for creating these; one simply has to memorize them.

Positive Comparative Superlative bonus -a -um melior, melius optimus -a -um good better best malus -a -um peior, peius pessimus -a -um bad worse worst magnus -a -um maior, maius maximus -a -um great greater greatest parvus -a -um minor, minus minimus -a -um small smaller smallest multus -a -um plus plurimus -a -um much more most prae/pro prior, prius primus -a -um before former foremost, first superus -a -um superior, superius summus/supremus -a -um above higher highest, furthest inferus -a -um inferior, inferius infimus -a -um low lower lowest prope proprior, proprius proximus -a -um near nearer nearest

Quam with the Comparative Degree Adjective and Ablative of Comparison When quam follows a comparative degree adjective it functions as a coordinating conjunction meaning than, linking the two things being compared. The two things being compared must be in the same case. For example:

Hi libri sunt clariores quam illi. These books are more famous than those. Dicit hos libros esse clariores quam illos. He says that those books are more famous than those. Vidi paucos feliciores quam patrem tuum. I saw few men happier than your father.

The same comparison can be accomplished without the use of the quam but rather using an ablative of comparison. This time the quam is omitted and the second item in the comparison is put into the ablative case. For example:

Hi libri sunt clariores illis. These books are more famous than those. Dicit hos libros esse clariores illis. He says that these books are more famous than those. Vidi paucos feliciores patre tuo. I saw few men happier than your father.

Quam with the Superlative When quam precedes a superlative, it indicates that the person/thing has the greatest possible degree of a particular quality. For example: Amicus meus erat vir quam iucundissimus. My friend was the pleasantest man possible or as can be.