Adjectives: Positive, Comparative, Superlative

1
AdjectivesPositive, Comparative, Superlative

• In Latin, as in English, adjectives are said to
  have three Degrees
• (1) Positive Adjective
• (2) Comparative More Adjective, Adjectiveer
• (3) Superlative Most Adjective,
  Adjectiveest
• The Degree of an adjective tell us the Degree to
  which a noun possesses a particular attribute
  whether with no reference to another noun
  (Positive) more than another noun (Comparative)
  or the most out of a group of nouns (Superlative).

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AdjectivesPositive, Comparative, Superlative

• In Latin, as in English, the Comparative and
  Superlative forms of an adjective are formed by
  adding a suffix onto the root
• Exempla
• Positive Comparative Superlative
• Tall Taller Tallest
• Fast Faster Fastest
• Intelligent More Intelligent Most Intelligent
• Good Better Best

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I. Comparative Adjectives

• The Comparative Degree of an adjective in Latin
  is formed according to the following formula
• Comparative Stem ior, ior, ius
• The Comparative is ALWAYS an Adjective of the 3rd
  Declension, but uses 3rd Declension noun endings.
• The Comparative Adjective is translated according
  to the following formula
• Comparative More Adjective, Adjectiveer
• NB The Latin suffix ior and the English suffix
  er are cognate with one another.

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I. Comparative Adjectives

• Comparative Stem ior, ior, ius
• Laetus, a, um ? Stem laet
• M F N
• Laetior Laetior Laetius
• Laetioris Laetioris Laetioris
• Laetiori Laetiori Laetiori
• Laetiorem Laetiorem Laetius
• Laetiore Laetiore Laetiore
• Laetiores Laetiores Laetiora
• Laetiorum Laetiorum Laetiorum
• Laetioribus Laetioribus Laetioribus
• Laetiores Laetiores Laetiora
• Laetioribus Laetioribus Laetioribus

5
I. Comparative Adjectives

• Comparative Stem ior, ior, ius
• Pulcher, Pulchra, Pulchrum ? Stem pulchr
• M F N
• Pulchrior Pulchrior Pulchrius
• Pulchrioris Pulchrioris Pulchrioris
• Pulchriori Pulchriori Pulchriori
• Pulchriorem Pulchriorem Pulchrius
• Pulchriore Pulchriore Pulchriore
• Pulchriores Pulchriores Pulchriora
• Pulchriorum Pulchriorum Pulchriorum
• Pulchrioribus Pulchrioribus Pulchrioribus
• Pulchriores Pulchriores Pulchriora
• Pulchrioribus Pulchrioribus Pulchrioribus

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I. Comparative Adjectives

• Comparative Stem ior, ior, ius
• Felix, Felicis ? Stem felic
• M F N
• Felicior Felicior Felicius
• Felicioris Felicioris Felicioris
• Feliciori Feliciori Feliciori
• Feliciorem Feliciorem Felicius
• Feliciore Feliciore Feliciore
• Feliciores Feliciores Feliciora
• Feliciorum Feliciorum Feliciorum
• Felicioribus Felicioribus Felicioribus
• Feliciores Feliciores Feliciora
• Felicioribus Felicioribus Felicioribus

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I. Comparative Adjectives

• Comparative Stem ior, ior, ius
• Fortis, is, e ? Stem fort
• M F N
• Fortior Fortior Fortius
• Fortioris Fortioris Fortioris
• Fortiori Fortiori Fortiori
• Fortiorem Fortiorem Fortius
• Fortiore Fortiore Fortiore
• Fortiores Fortiores Fortiora
• Fortiorum Fortiorum Fortiorum
• Fortioribus Fortioribus Fortioribus
• Fortiores Fortiores Fortiora
• Fortioribus Fortioribus Fortioribus

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I. Comparative Adjectives

• Comparative Stem ior, ior, ius
• Acer, Acris, Acre ? Stem acr
• M F N
• Acrior Acrior Acrius
• Acrioris Acrioris Acrioris
• Acriori Acriori Acriori
• Acriorem Acriorem Acrius
• Acriore Acriore Acriore
• Acriores Acriores Acriora
• Acriorum Acriorum Acriorum
• Acrioribus Acrioribus Acrioribus
• Acriores Acriores Acriora
• Acrioribus Acrioribus Acrioribus

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I. Comparative Adjectives

• Comparative Stem ior, ior, ius
• Celer, Celeris, Celere ? Stem celer
• M F N
• Celerior Celerior Celerius
• Celerioris Celerioris Celerioris
• Celeriori Celeriori Celeriori
• Celeriorem Celeriorem Celerius
• Celeriore Celeriore Celeriore
• Celeriores Celeriores Celeriora
• Celeriorum Celeriorum Celeriorum
• Celerioribus Celerioribus Celerioribus
• Celeriores Celeriores Celeriora
• Celerioribus Celerioribus Celerioribus

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I. Comparative Adjectives

• NB
• (1) Most adjectives ending in eus (and some
  ending in ius) form their Comparative Degree by
  using the adverb magis, more, with the
  adjective.
• Exemplum
• Idoneus, a, um suitable
• ? magis idoneus more suitable

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I. Comparative AdjectivesObject of Comparison

• NB
• (2) When the Comparative Adjective is used, Latin
  can express the object of the comparison in one
  of two ways
• (1) quam the adverb quam means than. The
  object of comparison goes in the same case as the
  noun modified by the Comparative.
• (2) Ablative of Comparison the object of
  comparison goes in the Ablative case. quam is
  not used.

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I. Comparative AdjectivesObject of Comparison

• Exempla
• Frater altior quam ego est.
• Frater altior me est.
• Maiores hostes ferociores quam illos pugnaverunt.
• Maiores hostes ferociores illis pugnaverunt.

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I. Comparative AdjectivesObject of Comparison

• Exempla
• Frater altior quam ego est.
• Frater altior me est.
• My brother is taller than me.
• Maiores hostes ferociores quam illos pugnaverunt.
• Maiores hostes ferociores illis pugnaverunt.
• Our ancestors fought enemy fiercer than these.

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II. Superlative Adjectives

• The Superlative Degree of an adjective in Latin
  is formed according to the following formula
• Superlative Stem issimus, a, um
• The Superlative is ALWAYS an adjective of the 1st
  and 2nd Delcension.
• The Superlative Adjective is translated according
  to the following formula
• Superlative Most Adjective, Adjectiveest
• NB The Latin suffix issimus and the English
  suffix est are cognate with one another.

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II. Superlative Adjectives

• Superlative Stem issimus, a, um
• laetus, a, um ? Stem laet
• M F N
• Laetissimus Laetissima Laetissimum
• Laetissimi Laetissimae Laetissimi
• Laetissimo Laetissimae Laetissimo
• Laetissimum Laetissimam Laetissimum
• Laetissimo Laetissima Laetissimo
• Laetissimi Laetissimae Laetissima
• Laetissimorum Laetissimarum Laetissimorum
• Laetissimis Laetissimis Laetissimis
• Laetissimos Laetissimas Laetissima
• Laetissimis Laetissimis Laetissimis

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II. Superlative Adjectives

• Superlative Stem issimus, a, um
• Felix, Felicis ? Stem felic
• M F N
• Felicissimus Felicissima Felicissimum
• Felicissimi Felicissimae Felicissimi
• Felicissimo Felicissimae Felicissimo
• Felicissimum Felicissimam Felicissimum
• Felicissimo Felicissima Felicissimo
• Felicissimi Felicissimae Felicissima
• Felicissimorum Felicissimarum Felicissimorum
• Felicissimis Felicissimis Felicissimis
• Felicissimos Felicissimas Felicissima
• Felicissimis Felicissimis Felicissimis

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II. Superlative Adjectives

• Superlative Stem issimus, a, um
• Fortis, is, e ? Stem fort
• M F N
• Fortissimus Fortissima Fortissimum
• Fortissimi Fortissimae Fortissimi
• Fortissimo Fortissimae Fortissimo
• Fortissimum Fortissimam Fortissimum
• Fortissimo Fortissima Fortissimo
• Fortissimi Fortissimae Fortissima
• Fortissimorum Fortissimarum Fortissimorum
• Fortissimis Fortissimis Fortissimis
• Fortissimos Fortissimas Fortissima
• Fortissimis Fortissimis Fortissimis

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II. Superlative Adjectives er Stems

• NB Superlative of er Stems Stem rimus, a,
  um
• Pulcher, Pulchra, Pulchrum ? Stem Pulcher
• M F N
• Pulcherrimus Pulcherrima Pulcherrimum
• Pulcherrimi Pulcherrimae Pulcherrimi
• Pulcherrimo Pulcherrimae Pulcherrimo
• Pulcherrimum Pulcherrimam Pulcherrimum
• Pulcherrimo Pulcherrima Pulcherrimo
• Pulcherrimi Pulcherrimae Pulcherrima
• Pulcherrimorum Pulcherrimarum Pulcherrimorum
• Pulcherrimis Pulcherrimis Pulcherrimis
• Pulcherrimos Pulcherrimas Pulcherrima
• Pulcherrimis Pulcherrimis Pulcherrimis

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II. Superlative Adjectives er Stems

• NB Superlative of er Stems Stem rimus, a,
  um
• Acer, Acris, Acre ? Stem acer
• M F N
• Acerrimus Acerrima Acerrimum
• Acerrimi Acerrimae Acerrimi
• Acerrimo Acerrimae Acerrimo
• Acerrimum Acerrimam Acerrimum
• Acerrimo Acerrima Acerrimo
• Acerrimi Acerrimae Acerrima
• Acerrimourm Acerrimarum Acerrimorum
• Acerrimis Acerrimis Acerrimis
• Acerrimos Acerrimas Acerrima
• Acerrimis Acerrimis Acerrimis

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II. Superlative Adjectives er Stems

• NB Superlative of er Stems Stem rimus, a,
  um
• Celer, Celeris, Celere ? Stem celer
• M F N
• Celerrimus Celerrima Celerrimum
• Celerrimi Celerrimae Celerrimi
• Celerrimo Celerrimae Celerrimo
• Celerrimum Celerrimam Celerrimum
• Celerrimo Celerrima Celerrimo
• Celerrimi Celerrimae Celerrima
• Celerrimorum Celerrimarum Celerrimorum
• Celerrimis Celerrimis Celerrimis
• Celerrimos Celerrimas Celerrima
• Celerrimis Celerrimis Celerrimis

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II. Superlative Adjectives lis Stems

• NB Six adjectives ending in lis form their
  Superlative by adding limus to the stem
• Positive Comparative Superlative
• Facilis, is, e Facilior, ior, ius Facillimus, a,
  um
• Difficilis, is, e Difficilior, ior,
  ius Difficillimus, a, um
• Similis, is, e Similior, ior, ius Simillimus, a,
  um
• Dissimilis, is, e Dissimilior, ior,
  ius Dissimillimus, a, um
• Gracilis, is, e Gracilior, ior, ius Gracillimus,
  a, um
• Humilis, is, e Humilior, ior, ius Humillimus, a,
  um
• Other lis adjectives form their Superlative
  regularly.

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II. Superlative Adjectives

• NB
• (1) Adjectives that form their Comparative using
  the adverb magis form their Superlative using
  the adverb maxime, most.
• Exemplum
• Idoneus, a, um suitable
• ? maxime idoneus most suitable

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II. Superlative Adjectives

• NB
• (2) The adverb quam the Superlative is
  translated as as adjective as possible.
• Exempla
• quam fortissimus
• as brave as possible
• quam celerrimus
• as quick as possible

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III. Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives

• Several adjectives form their Comparative and
  Superlative Degrees irregularly. Although the
  stems of these Comparative and Superlatives are
  irregular, nonetheless they decline according to
  the regular pattern of Comparatives and
  Superlatives.
• The following six adjectives are the most common
  adjectives which have irregular Comparative and
  Superlative forms

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III. Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives

• Positive Comparative Superlative
• Bonus, a, um Melior, ior, ius Optimus, a, um
• Good Better Best
• Malus, a, um Peior, ior, ius Pessimus, a, um
• Bad Worse Worst
• Magnus, a, um Maior, ior, ius Maximus, a, um
• Great, Large Greater, Larger Greatest,
  Largest
• Parvus, a, um Minor, Minor, Minus Minimus, a, um
• Small Smaller Smallest
• Multus, a, um Plus, Pluris (neuter) Plurimus, a,
  um
• Much More Most
• Multi, ae, a Plures, es, a Plurimi, ae, a
• Many More Most

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III. Irregular Comparatives and Superlatives

• The following adjectives also form their
  Comparative and Superlative Degrees irregularly,
  but are not very common
• Positive Comparative Superlative
• Nequam (indec.) Nequior, ior, ius Nequissimus, a,
  um
• Worthless More Worthless Most Worthless
• Frugi Frugalior, ior, ius Frugalissimus, a, um
• Useful More Useful Most Useful
• Dexter, ra, rum Dexterior, ior, ius Dextimus, a,
  um
• Handy More Handy Most Handy