Comparison of Adjectives 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: bright, expensive 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” 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 Dat. īrātiōrī Acc. īrātiōrem Abl. īrātiōre īrātiōrēs īrātiōra īrātiōrum 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 Dat. īrātissimō Acc. īrātissimam Abl. īrātissimā īrātissimōrum īrātissimārum īrātissimīs īrātissimōs īrātissimās

Mid-point practice Let’s form the comparative and superlative of the following: longus longior/longius, longissimus, -a, -um ingēns, ingentis ingentior/ingentius, ingentissimus, -a, -um fēlīx, fēlīcis fēlīcior/fēlīcius, fēlīcissimus, -a, -um

Now for the exceptions Adjectives ending in –er: If the adjective loses the –er in the fem. nom. sing., it will lose the –er in the comparative. In the superlative, always add –rimus, -a, -um instead of –issimus, -a, -um. Example: pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum pulchrior/pulchrius; pulcherrimus, -a, -um

-Lis words With the following –lis words: facilis (easy), difficilis (hard), similis (like), dissimilis (different), gracilis (slender), and humilis (humble), add –limus, -a, -um instead of –issimus, -a, -um in the superlative. Examples: facillimus, -a, -um, but fidēlissimus, -a, -um

Exceptions Practice Please give the comp. and superlative for: celer, celeris, celere celerior/celerius, celerrimus, -a, -um facilis, -e facilior/facilius, facillimus, -a, -um ācer, ācris, ācre ācrior/ācrius, ācerrimus, -a, -um ūtilis, -e ūtilior/ūtilius, ūtilissimus, -a, -um

Irregular adjectives Pos. Comp. Superl. bonus melior optimus malus peior pessimus magnus maior maximus parvus minor minimus multus plūs plūrimus Just as in English (good, better, best), some Latin adjectives are compared irregularly. Their comparative and superlative forms will need to be memorized.

In summary What are the five most important concepts you need to know to be able to form and translate the positive, comparative, and superlative degrees?