Comparison of Adjectives Ch 26 & 27

Comparison of Adjectives The adjectives we’ve learned so far are used to describe a basic characteristic of the noun they modify. Eg: clarus orator a famous orator This is called the “positive” degree of the adjective.

Comparison of Adjectives Just like in English, Latin adjectives can be used to show that a person or thing has a greater degree of a certain characteristic than another person(s) or thing(s), or more than is usual or customary.

Comparison of Adjectives The ‘comparative’ degree is used to compare one person or thing with just one other. The ‘superlative’ degree is used to compare a person or thing with two or more others. Positive: a famous orator Comparative: a more famous orator Superlative: the most famous orator

Formation of Comparatives and Superlatives The comparative and superlative are formed using the base of the adjective. Comparative = base of positive + -ior (M/F) or –ius (N) (gen = -ioris) Superlative = base of positive + -issimus, a, um

Formation of Comparatives and Superlatives Pos.carus, a, umfelix, gen felicis Comp.carior, -iusfelicior, -ius Super.carissimus,a,umfelicissimus, a, um

Declension of Comparatives Superlatives decline like 1 st /2 nd declension adjs. Comparatives are 2-ending adjs (like,say, fortis, forte)…BUT they follow the consonant declension! They are an exception to the rule that adjs of the 3 rd declension belong to the i-stem declension.

Declension of Comparatives SingularPlural M/FN N Nomlongiorlongiuslongioreslongiora Genlongioris longiorum Datlongiori longioribus Acclongiorem longioreslongiora Abllongiore longioribus

Usage and Translation: Comparatives Usually translated with more or with the suffix -er. Eg: more beautiful, happier Sometimes has the force of ‘rather’ (greater degree of quality than usual) or ‘too’ (greater degree than desirable). Eg: rather beautiful, too happy

Usage and Translation: Superlatives Usually translated with most or with the suffix -est. Eg: most beautiful, happiest Sometimes has the force of very (especially when compared to what is usual or ideal). Eg: very beautiful, very happy

Quam Quam and the comparative: When quam follows a comparative, it functions as a coordinating conjuction meaning ‘than’ and linking the things being compared. The same case or construction that precedes quam follows it as well. Eg: Hic vir est clarior quam ille. This man is more famous than that man.

Quam Quam and the superlative: When quam precedes a superlative, it acts adverbially and indicates that the thing modified has the greatest possible degree of a quality. “as ______ as possible” Eg: Amicus erat vir quam sapientissimus. The friend was the wisest man possible. The friend was a man as wise as could be.

Ablative of Comparison When the first element to be compared was in the nominative or accusative case, the second element was often used in the ablative case (no quam) to show the comparison. Eg: Filia eius bellior uxore erat. His daughter was prettier than his wife.

Peculiar Superlatives There are two groups of adjectives which, although regular in the comparatives, have peculiar forms of the superlative.

Peculiar Superlatives 1)Six adjectives ending in –lis form the superlative by adding –limus, a, um to the base. Ex: facilis, e facil- + -limus = facillimus, a, um

Peculiar Superlatives The six adjectives are: facilissimilis difficilisdissimilis gracilishumilis Any other adjective that ends in –lis (like fidelis or utilis) is regular (fidelissimus, utilissimus).

Peculiar Superlatives 2) Any adjective with a masculine ending in –er, though forming regularly in the comparative, forms the superlative by adding –rimus directly to the masculine –er, NOT to the base. Ex: Positivepulcher, -chra, -chrum Comparativepulchrior, -ius Superlativepulcherrimus, -a, -um

Irregular Comparison There are a handful of adjectives which are so irregular that their forms will just have to be memorized. Luckily, we get a lot of English derivatives from these words! These adjectives include (see p 180):

Irregular Comparison PositiveComparativeSuperlative bonus, a, ummelior, -iusoptimus, a, um

Irregular Comparison PositiveComparativeSuperlative bonus, a, ummelior, -iusoptimus, a, um magnus, a, ummaior, -iusmaximus, a, um

Irregular Comparison PositiveComparativeSuperlative bonus, a, ummelior, -iusoptimus, a, um magnus, a, ummaior, -iusmaximus, a, um malus, a, umpeior, -iuspessimus, a, um

Irregular Comparison PositiveComparativeSuperlative bonus, a, ummelior, -iusoptimus, a, um magnus, a, ummaior, -iusmaximus, a, um malus, a, umpeior, -iuspessimus, a, um multus, a, um----, plusplurimus, a, um

Irregular Comparison PositiveComparativeSuperlative bonus, a, ummelior, -iusoptimus, a, um magnus, a, ummaior, -iusmaximus, a, um malus, a, umpeior, -iuspessimus, a, um multus, a, um----, plusplurimus, a, um parvus, a, umminor, minusminimus, a, um

Irregular Comparison PositiveComparativeSuperlative bonus, a, ummelior, -iusoptimus, a, um magnus, a, ummaior, -iusmaximus, a, um malus, a, umpeior, -iuspessimus, a, um multus, a, um----, plusplurimus, a, um parvus, a, umminor, minusminimus, a, um (prae, pro)prior,-iusprimus, a, um

Irregular Comparison PositiveComparativeSuperlative bonus, a, ummelior, -iusoptimus, a, um magnus, a, ummaior, -iusmaximus, a, um malus, a, umpeior, -iuspessimus, a, um multus, a, um----, plusplurimus, a, um parvus, a, umminor, minusminimus, a, um (prae, pro)prior,-iusprimus, a, um superus, a, umsuperior, -iussummus, a, um supremus, a, um

Declension of Plus In the plural, plus acts like an adjective with mixed i-stem and consonant-stem forms. (-ium in genitive plural, but –a [NOT –ia] in the neuter nominative and accusative – see page 181 for declension chart) In the singular, plus is a neuter noun which takes the partitive genitive/genitive of the whole. Ex: plus pecuniae more (of) money