Comparison of Adjectives: Wheelock XXVI

Simple, simpler, simplest or complex, more complex, most complex? Terminology

• There are three degrees of adjectives in Latin and in English: • Positive • Comparative • Superlative • Latin example: īrātus, īrātior, īrātissimus • English example: angry, angrier, angriest The Positive Degree

• The positive degree refers to a basic quality of a person or thing and uses regular adjective forms. • English examples: angry, short • Latin examples: īrātus, brevis • The positive degree of a Latin adjective uses either first and second declension endings or third declension endings. • It is the form introduced in vocabulary.

The Comparative Degree

• The comparative degree compares the quality of one person or thing with another and uses “-er” or “more” or “rather” or “too” with the meaning of the adjective. • English examples: brighter, more expensive • Latin examples: īrātior, brevior Forming the Comparative

• To form the comparative degree of a Latin adjective, first find the base of the adjective (take “-a” off of the nominative feminine singular). • Then add -ior (masc.+fem.) or -ius (neuter) to form the nominative singular. • For other cases, use the –ior base plus 3rd declension noun endings. • Example: īrātior, īrātius; brevior, brevius Full comparative chart Masc./Fem. Neuter Nom. īrātior īrātius Gen. īrātiōris īrātiōris Dat. īrātiōrī īrātiōrī Acc. īrātiōrem īrātius Abl. Īrātiōre īrātiōre Nom. īrātiōrēs īrātiōra Gen. īrātiōrum īrātiōrum Dat. īrātiōribus īrātiōribus Acc. Īrātiōrēs īrātiōra Abl. īrātiōribus īrātiōribus The Superlative Degree

• The superlative degree stresses the highest degree of a quality and uses “- est” or “most” or “very” with the meaning of the adjective. • English examples: brightest, most expensive • Latin examples: īrātissimus, brevissimus Forming the superlative

• To form the superlative degree of a Latin adjective, take the adjective base and add –issim- plus 2-1-2 adjective endings. • Example: īrātissimus, -a, -um • Even if an adjective is originally 3rd declension (like brevis), it will take 2-1-2 endings in the superlative. • Exceptions with adjectives ending in –er and –lis are discussed in a later slide.

Full superlative chart Masculine Feminine Neuter Nom. īrātissimus īrātissima īrātissimum Gen. īrātissimī īrātissimae īrātissimī Dat. īrātissimō īrātissimae īrātissimō Acc. īrātissimum īrātissimam īrātissimum Abl. īrātissimō īrātissimā īrātissimō Nom. īrātissimī īrātissimae īrātissima Gen. īrātissimōrum īrātissimārum īrātissimōrum Dat. īrātissimīs īrātissimīs īrātissimīs Acc. īrātissimōs īrātissimās īrātissima Abl. īrātissimīs īrātissimīs īrātissimīs