COMPARATIVES AND SUPERLATIVES
An adjective and an adverb can be made into a comparative and a superlative form!
Comparative Adjectives:
A comparative denotes a comparison between one thing and other. In English we would change the adjective to a comparative adjective like:
- Easy to easier
- Beautiful to more beautiful.
In Latin, we add -ior to the stem of the adjective for the masculine and feminine, and add -ius to the stem for the neuter nominative and accusative singular.
e.g. altus, -a, -um —> altior, altius
Notice, the endings are declined like 3rd declension adjectives!
To spot a comparative, look out for the -ior at the end of the stem.
In Latin, a comparative is either followed by ‘quam’ (‘than’) or an ablative of comparison (the noun being compared in the ablative case)
When comparatives are not used in comparisons, they are translated as ‘rather…’ or ‘too…’
Comparative Adverbs:
Just like adjectives, comparative adverbs can be translated with the word ‘more’ in front.
e.g. more easily, more gladly
The comparative adverb is formed by adding -ius to the stem.
- E.g. laete —> laetius
- Celeriter —> celerius
*This is the same ending as the neuter nominative/accusative singular comparative adjective as seen above!
Superlative Adjectives:
Superlative adjectives can be translated as ‘most….’ or ‘-est’ such as ‘most beautiful’ or ‘easiest’
When there is no point of reference, a superlative can also be translated as ‘very …’
They are formed by adding -issimus, -a, -um to the stem and decline like 1st and 2nd declension adjectives e.g. bonus – refer back to this in the adjectives section!
e.g. altus —> altissimus
Adjectives ending in -er have their superlatives end in -errimus.
You need to know these 4:
- Miser —> miserrimus
- Celer —> celerrimus
- Pulcher —> pulcherrimus
- Sacer —> sacerrimus
Adjectives ending in -ilis have their superlatives end in -illimus.
You need to know these 2:
- Difficilis —> difficillimus
- Facilis —> facillimus
When a superlative is followed by ‘quam’, it is translated as ‘as … as possible’
Superlative Adverbs:
Superlative adverbs can be translated as ‘most -ily’.
They are formed the same as the superlative adjective, but the ending is -e.
e.g. altus —> altissime
This is identical to the masculine, vocative singular superlative adjective!
Irregular comparatives and superlatives:
There are some irregular comparative and superlatives that you require to know:
The first is the adjective/adverb, then the comparative and then the superlative!
Adjective – bonus (good) —> melior, melius —> optimus
Adverb – bene (well) —> melius —> optime
Adjective – malus (bad) —> peior, peius —> pessimus
Adverb – male (badly) —> peius —> pessime
Adjective – magnus (big) —> maior, maius —> maximus
Adverb – magnopere (greatly) —> magis —> maxime
Adjective – parvus (small) —> minor, minus —> minimus
Adverb – parve/paulum —> minus —> minime
Adjective - multus —> plus in the singular (indeclinable and takes a genitive case after) and plures in the plural (declinable) —> plurimus
Adverb – multe/multum/multo —> N/A —> plurime
