(Grammar)Comparisons+with+Irregular+Adjectives

= Comparisons with Irregular Adjectives = = = For most adjectives and adverbs, we have set rules on how to change their degrees from comparative to superlative. However, for a few, their changes are not consistent with these rules, and so we must know their forms as they go from one degree to another.


 * Adjectives**
 * **Positive Degree** || **Comparative Degree** || **Superlative Degree** ||
 * Bonus-a-um || Melior-ior-ius || Optimus-a-um ||
 * Malus-a-um || Peior, peior, peius || Pessimus-a-um ||
 * Magnus-a-um || Maior, maior, maius || Maximus-a-um ||
 * Parvus-a-um || Minor, minor, minus || Minimus-a-um ||
 * Multus-a-um || Plus (followed by genitive noun) || Plurimus-a-um ||
 * Multi-ae-a || Plures, plures, plura || Plurimi-ae-a ||

Notice that, even though these do not follow standard rules, certain things are still true. For example, //ior// plus a 3rd declension ending still indicates a comparative degree of the adjective. Likewise, the superlative still uses endings of the 1st and 2nd declension. Also, we can get a lot of English derivatives from these forms, which can help us to remember the spelling and forms of these words. For example, //optimus// gives us //optimal//, //optimism//, and //optimistic//, while //maior// gives us //major// and //majority//.


 * Adverbs**
 * **Positive Adjective** || **Positive Adverb** || **Comparative Adverb** || **Superlative Adverb** ||
 * Bonus || Bene || Melius || Optime ||
 * Malus || Male || Peius || Pessime ||
 * Magnus || Magnopere || Magis || Maxime ||
 * Parvus || Parum || Minus || Minime ||
 * Multus || Multum || Plus || Plurimum ||

Note that there is no row for //multi//; since the difference between singular and plural meaning doesn't apply to adverbs, there is no need for this extra row. Notice also that, while the positive adverbs do not uniformly come across from their adjectives, the comparative and superlative forms do. The exceptions are //magnus// and //multus//, which have an odd comparative and superlative, respectively. Otherwise, if you can change a regular comparative or superlative adjective into an adverb, you can change an irregular one too.