(Grammar)Comparisons+of+Regular+Adjectives

= Comparisons of Regular Adjectives = In English, we learn how to say things like "big," "bigger," and "biggest" pretty early on. However, we don't usually know what the point of it is. What we're doing is using //degrees of adjectives// and we do it to compare things to each other. Let's break it down.

There are three degrees of adjectives (adverbs, too, for later): the //positive,// the //comparative//, and the //superlative//.


 * Positive-** This is the basic level of a modifier. "Big" is an example of this. In Latin, the vocabulary for adjectives that you find in a dictionary would be positive degree.

= = = =
 * Comparative-** This is a modifier that compares two things to each other. It can also show that something is a step up from the positive degree. Things like "-er," "more," and "rather" indicate the comparative degree.


 * Superlative-** This is a modifier that compares three or more things. It can also show that something is a step up from the comparative. Things like "-est," "most," and "very" indicate the superlative degree.

In Latin, we don't have to form the positive degree- it's just there. However, we have to form the comparative and the superlative degrees. Here's how.


 * Comparative**- Take the stem of the adjective (very important for adjectives ending in "er" and certain 3rd declension adjectives), and add //ior, ior, ius//. This forms the nominative singular comparative. To that, add 3rd declension endings. Unlike 3rd declension positive adjectives, these use normal noun endings.


 * Superlative-** For most, take the stem of the adjective and add //issimus-a-um//. This then uses endings from 1st and 2nd declension.

Here's an example of an adjective going through this process:

Altus-a-um- high. Taking the //us-a-um// off of this, the stem left is //alt//. Alt**ior-ior-ius**- higher, rather high. Alt**issimus-a-um**- highest, very high.


 * Adjectives ending in "er"**- Follow the rules for positive and comparative as normal. For the superlative, take the positive nominative masculine singular (the one with the "er" in it) and add //rimus-a-um// to it.

Here's an example of an adjective going through this process:

Pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum- beautiful. Going to the feminine form, we get the stem of //pulchr//. Pulchrior, pulchrior, pulchrius- more beautiful, rather beautiful Pulcher**rimus-a-um**- most beautiful, very beautiful


 * The "limus" kids-** This is a group of six adjectives whose positives end in "lis;" //facilis// (easy), //difficilis// (difficult), //similis// (similar, like), //dissimilis// (dissimilar, unlike), //gracilis// (slender, thin, slim, simple) and //humilis// (humble). This applies only to these six words. The positive and comparative are the same. For the superlative, take the stem and add //limus-a-um//

Here's an example of an adjective going through this process:

Facilis-is-e- easy. Taking off the //is-is-e//, the stem is //facil.// Facilior-ior-ius- easier, rather easy. Facil**limus-a-um**- easiest, very easy.

For adjectives such as //magnus// and //bonus//, check out this page to learn how to make them comparative and superlative.