COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES

Comparative adjectives use third declension endings, but without the I-stems

-e in all ablative singular

meliore matre- the better mother

fortiore animali- the braver animal

-a in neuter nom. And acc. Pl.

fortiora animalia- braver animals

-um in genitive plural

pulchriorum puellarum- prettier girls

maiorum templorum- larger temples

Superlative adjectives take first and second declension endings and are formed four different ways.

Positive                 Comparative                 Superlative

1. longus, a, um        longior, longius               longissimus, a, um

English   long                longer                            longest

fortis, forte             fortior, fortius                  fortissimus, a, um

English  brave            braver                               bravest

 

ENDINGS: comparative forms use third declension

                   Fortior for masculine and feminine nouns, gen s fortioris

                    fortius for neuter nouns, gen s fortioris

Superlative adjectives use first and second declension endings

About 90% of your adjectives work this way.

Give the comparative and superlative for:

NOTE THE -SS IN THE SUPERLATIVE. tHIS IS YOUR CLUE TO RECOGNISING SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES.

Laetus, a, um

Probus, a, um

Brevis, e

Levis, e

2. A SECOND SET USES -RR IN THE SUPERLATIVE. THESE ARE YOUR ADJECTIVES ENDING IN -ER.

 miser, misera, miserum            miserior, miserius          miserrimus, a, um

liber, libera, liberum                     liberior, liberius             liberrimus, a, um

pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum          pulchrior, pulchrius         pulcherrimus, a, um

3. A THIRD TYPE (ADJ. IN -LIS) USE -LL IN THE SUPERLATIVE.

3. facilis, facile             facilior, facilius             facillimus, a, um

difficilis, difficile           difficilior, difficilius        difficillimus, a, um

Give the comparative and superlative for

Similis, simile

Dissimilis, dissimile

Humilis, humile

4. THERE ARE FIVE IRREGULARS. THESE MUST BE MEMORISED. THINK OF ENGLISH DERIVATIVES AND YOU WILL DO WELL.

Bonus, a, um              melior, melius                    optimus, a, um    (optimist)

Malus, a, um              peior, peius                       pessimus, a, um    (pessimist)

Magnus, a, um           maior, maius                    maximus, a, um     (maximise)

Parvus, a, um             minor, minus                    minnimus, a, um    (minnimise)

Multus, a, um             plus                                 plurimus, a, um    (plurality)