1. Comparison of Adjectives

2. Degrees of Comparison There are three degrees of comparison
Positive –describes the quality or characteristic of a noun
e.g. Paul is a great quarterback.
Comparative – describes the greater degree of a quality between two nouns or situations
e.g. Paul is a greater quarterback than Steven.
Superlative – describes the greatest degree of a quality among three or more nouns
e.g. Paul is the greatest quarterback in the league.

3. These are the adjectives found in a dictionary
Positive degree
These are the adjectives found in a dictionary
1st/2nd Declension
3rd Declension
Demonstrative (“6th” Declension)

4. Comparative degree
Formed by adding –ior/-ius to the stem from the positive degree:
certus, certa, certum  cert-  certior, certius
fortis, forte  fort-  fortior, fortius
dives, divitis (gen)  divit-  divitior, divitius
Translate with: -er, more, rather

5. How to decline the comparative degree
The comparative degree will use regular 3rd declension endings
Masc./Fem. Neut.
Nom. certior certius
Gen. certiōris certiōris
Dat. certiōrī certiōrī
Acc. certiōrem certius
Abl. certiōre certiōre

6. Superlative degree
Formed by adding –issimus, -a, -um to the stem from the positive degree:
certus, certa, certum  cert-  certissimus, -a, -um
fortis, forte  fort-  fortissimus, -a, -um
dives, divitis (gen)  divit-  divitissimus, -a, -um
Translate with: -est, most, very

7. How to decline the Superlative degree
The comparative degree will use 1st/2nd declension endings
Masc. Fem. Neut.
Nom. certissimus certissima certissimum
Gen. certissimī certissimae certissimī
Dat. certissimō certissimae certissimō
Acc. certiōrum certissimam certissimum
Abl. certissimō certissimā certissimō

8. How to compare two objects
Abl. Of Comparison – the noun being compared is put into the ablative case, no prepostion is used.
e.g. – Marcus is older than Flavia
Marcus est senior Flaviā.
e.g. The old man prayed to a god more powerful than that god.
Senex (vir) deum potentiōrem orāvit illō deō.

9. How to compare two objects
Quam – Use quam to join the two compared words. Word following quam must be in the same case as the word, to which it is being compared.
e.g. – Marcus is older than Flavia
Marcus est senior quam Flavia.
e.g. The old man prayed to a god more powerful than that god.
Senex (vir) deum potentiōrem orāvit quam illum deum.
Nom.
Nom.
Nom.
Acc.

10. How to compare More than two objects
Quam – Use quam with the superlative degree to indicate as…as possible.
e.g. – Marcus studied to be as certain as possible.
Marcus studuit ut quam certissimus esset.
e.g. Flavia listened so that she would be as smart as possible.
Flavia audivit ut quam sapientissima esset.

11. Adjectives ending in -er
Both 1st/2nd and 3rd declensions have some adjectives ending in –er
e.g. sacer, sacra, sacrum
celer, celeris, celere
Regardless whether these adjectives keep or drop the e from the –er in the positive and comparative degrees, the e remains in the superlative degree and the r is doubled.
e.g. sacerrimus, -a, -um
celerrimus, -a, -um

12. Adjectives ending in -lis
Most adjectives ending in –lis (e.g. horribilis) form their comparative and superlative forms like other adjectives
Six adjectives ending in –lis form the superlative degree differently:
facilis, facile; difficilis, difficile;
similis, simile; dissimilis, dissimile;
humilis, humile; gracilis, gracile
These adjectives will double the l instead
e.g. facillimus, -a, -um
gracillimus, -a -um

13. Irregular adjectives
Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms, just like in English (e.g. good better  best)
Some of the most commonly seen are:
bonus, -a, -um  melior, melius  optimus, -a, -um
malus –a, -um  peior, peius  pessimus, -a, -um
magnus, -a, -um  maior, maius  maximus, -a, -um
parvus, -a, -um  minor, minus  minimus, -a, -um
multus, -a, -um  plūs (gen. plūris)  plūrimus, -a, -um

14. Comparison of Adverbs

15. From 1st/2nd Declension adjectives
Positive degree
From 1st/2nd Declension adjectives
Positive stem + -ē
certus, certa, certum  cert-  certē
From 3rd Declension adjectives
Positive stem + -iter
fortis, forte  fort-  fortiter

16. Comparative degree
Form the comparative adjective and use the neuter nominative singular form:
certus, certa, certum  cert-  certior, certius
certius = adverb
fortis, forte  fort-  fortior, fortius
fortius = adverb

17. Superlative degree Superlative stem + -ē:
certus, certa, certum  cert-  certissimus, -a, -um
certissimē = adverb
fortis, forte  fort-  fortissimus, -a, -um
fortissimē = adverb

18. Irregular Adverbs
Some adverbs have irregular comparative forms, just like in English (e.g. good better  best)
Some of the most commonly seen are:
bene  melius  optimē
malē  peius  pessimē
magnopere  magis  maximē
parum  minus  minimē
multum  plūs  plūrimum