Lesson 17: Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

Regular and irregular comparative and superlative adjectives, formation of comparative and superlative adverbs, and ablative of comparison vs. quam.

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Overview

Latin adjectives have three degrees of comparison: positive (good), comparative (better), and superlative (best). Adverbs derived from adjectives also have comparative and superlative forms. Latin offers two constructions for expressing "than": the particle quam and the ablative of comparison.

1. Comparative Adjectives — Regular Formation

Add -ior (M/F) and -ius (N) to the positive stem (found by removing -is from the genitive singular):

Positive Stem Comparative (M/F / N)
longus, -a, -um long- longior / longius
fortis, forte fort- fortior / fortius
fēlix, fēlicis fēlic- fēlicior / fēlicius
audāx, audācis audāc- audācior / audācius

Declension of comparatives: They decline as 3rd declension adjectives (two-termination: M/F same, N different), but without i-stem characteristics (gen. pl. is -um, not -ium; abl. sg. is -e, not -ī).

Model: longior, longius (longer)

Case M/F N
Nom. sg. longior longius
Gen. sg. longiōris longiōris
Dat. sg. longiōrī longiōrī
Acc. sg. longiōrem longius
Abl. sg. longiōre longiōre
Nom./Acc. pl. longiōrēs longiōra
Gen. pl. longiōrum longiōrum
Dat./Abl. pl. longiōribus longiōribus

2. Superlative Adjectives — Regular Formation

Most adjectives: add -issimus/-issima/-issimum to the stem:

Positive Superlative
longus longissimus/a/um
fortis fortissimus/a/um
fēlix fēlicissimus/a/um

Special rule — adjectives ending in -er: add -rimus/-rima/-rimum to the nominative masculine (not the stem):

Positive Superlative
ācer, ācris ācerrimus/a/um
celer, celeris celerrimus/a/um
miser, misera miserrimus/a/um

Special rule — adjectives ending in -ilis: add -limus/-lima/-limum:

Positive Superlative
facilis facillimus/a/um
difficilis difficillimus/a/um
similis simillimus/a/um

Superlative adjectives decline as regular 1st/2nd declension adjectives (-us/-a/-um).

3. Irregular Comparisons

These must be memorized; the comparative and superlative are built from entirely different stems:

Positive Comparative (M/F / N) Superlative
bonus, -a, -um (good) melior / melius optimus/a/um
malus, -a, -um (bad) peior / peius pessimus/a/um
magnus, -a, -um (great) maior / maius maximus/a/um
parvus, -a, -um (small) minor / minus minimus/a/um
multus, -a, -um (much/many) — / plūs plūrimus/a/um

Special note on plūs: In the singular, plūs functions as a neuter noun, not an adjective. It takes a partitive genitive:

  • plūs vīnī — more wine (lit. "more of wine")
  • plūs temporis — more time

In the plural, plūs functions normally as an adjective: plūrēs mīlitēs (more soldiers).

4. Adverb Formation

Positive adverb: From 1st/2nd declension adjectives: add -ē to the stem (longus → longē). From 3rd declension adjectives: add -iter or use the neuter accusative (fortiter, feliciter, facile).

Comparative adverb: = the neuter accusative singular of the comparative adjective:

  • longior → comparative adverb: longius (more/rather long)
  • melior → melius (better)
  • maior → magis (more — irregular)

Superlative adverb: Superlative stem + -ē:

  • longissimus → longissimē (most/very long)
  • optimus → optimē (best, very well)
  • fortissimus → fortissimē (most bravely)
Degree Adjective Adverb
Positive longus longē
Comparative longior longius
Superlative longissimus longissimē

5. Two Ways to Express "Than"

A. quam construction: Use quam ("than") after a comparative; the two things compared must be in the same case:

Caesar fortior est quam Pompeius. — Caesar is braver than Pompey. (Caesar nom. = Pompeius nom.)

B. Ablative of comparison: Omit quam; put the second element in the ablative:

Caesar Pompeiō fortior est. — Caesar is braver than Pompey. (Pompeiō ablative stands for "than Pompey")

The ablative of comparison is only possible when the standard of comparison would be in the nominative or accusative. When it would be in another case, quam is required.

Key Vocabulary

Latin English
bonus / melior / optimus good / better / best
malus / peior / pessimus bad / worse / worst
magnus / maior / maximus great / greater / greatest
parvus / minor / minimus small / smaller / smallest
multus / plūs / plūrimus much/many / more / most
longus, -a, -um long
quam than; how; as
valde very (with positives)
plūs (+ gen.) more (of something)
optimē very well, excellently

Example Sentences

  1. Via haec longior est quam illa. — This road is longer than that one.
  2. Caesar omnibus mīlitibus fortior erat. — Caesar was braver than all the soldiers.
  3. Liber Marcī brevior est librō Lūcī. — Marcus's book is shorter than Lucius's book.
  4. Melius est tacēre quam stulta dicere. — It is better to be silent than to say foolish things.
  5. Maxima urbs Imperī erat Rōma. — The greatest city of the Empire was Rome.
  6. Puer celerius cucurrit quam puella. — The boy ran more swiftly than the girl.
  7. Optimus magister discipulōs laudat. — The best teacher praises his students.
  8. Plūs temporis dabimus. — We will give more time.
  9. Pessimus servus ā dominō pūnītur. — The worst slave is punished by the master.
  10. Nihil melius est amīcitiā. — Nothing is better than friendship.

Practice

A. Form the comparative and superlative (give all three genders of nom. sg.):

  1. gravis, grave
  2. ācer, ācris, ācre
  3. facilis, facile

B. Form the three degrees of the adverb:

  1. fortis → adverbs: positive / comparative / superlative
  2. bonus → benē / ____ / ____

C. Rewrite using the ablative of comparison instead of quam:

  1. Cornelia prudentior est quam Mārcus.
  2. Hic liber longior est quam ille.

D. Translate:

  1. Optimē labōrāvistī.
  2. Plūs pecūniae habeō quam tū.
  3. The worst soldiers are more cowardly than the best.