1. new newer newest light lighter lightest
Comparing Adjectives
new newer newest
light lighter lightest

2. What do these adjectives have in common?
novior
levior
peior
commodior
The -ior lets us know that these adjectives are in comparative degree.
novior = newer
levior = lighter
peior = worse
commodior = more suitable

3. An adjective has 3 degrees:
positive (what’s usually given in a vocabulary list)
comparative (ior or ius added to base)
superlative (issimus, a, um added to base)

4. Forming COMPARATIVE Degree
to base of adjective:
add ior for masc. and fem. forms
add ius for neuter
An adjective in comparative degree uses 3rd declension endings:

5. Forming COMPARATIVE Degree
N ior iorēs
G ioris iorum
D iorī ioribus
Acc iorem iorēs
Abl iore ioribus
An adjective in comparative degree uses 3rd declension endings:
These are the forms for describing masculine and feminine nouns.

6. Forming COMPARATIVE Degree
N ius iora
G ioris iorum
D iorī ioribus
Acc ius iora
Abl iore ioribus
An adjective in comparative degree uses 3rd declension endings:
These are the forms for describing neuter nouns.

7. Make each adjective agree with its Latin noun.
newer viam
(novus, a, um)
more common supplicium
(communis, e)
rather uncertain exercituum
(incertus, a, um)
stronger virōs
(fortis, e)
noviorem
communius
incertiorum
fortiorēs

8. Virum fortiorem quam Marcum video.
quam = than
Marcus

9. Virum fortiorem quam Marcum video.
I see a man stronger than Marcus.
quam = than
Marcus

10. Forming SUPERLATIVE Degree
to base of adjective:
add issimus, issima, issimum
(We’ll learn a few exceptions later.)

11. Make each adjective agree with its Latin noun.
newest viam
(novus, a, um)
most common supplicium
(communis, e)
very uncertain exercituum
(incertus, a, um)
strongest virōs
(fortis, e)
novissimam
communissimum
incertissimōrum
fortissimōs

12. Estne testudo animal tardissimum?

13. Estne testudo animal tardissimum?
Is the turtle the slowest animal?

14. Ablative of Comparison
when using quam (than), both words being compared must be in same case
omit quam and use ablative case:
Virum fortiorem quam Marcum video.
Virum fortiorem Marcō video.

15. Review
positive degree – vocab. List
comparative degree – ior and ius added to base (-er, more, rather, too)
superlative degree – issimus, issima, issimum added to base (-est, most, very, exceedingly)
when comparing 2 things: use quam and same case OR omit quam and put 2nd word in comparison in ablative case