We use comparative and superlative forms to compare things and to describe quantity of their quality. In English language, we add some suffixes, or additional words to the adjectives to make comparison.
For example: I am taller than you.
She is the tallest in my classroom.
It is more beautiful than the other.
This subject is the most complicated one in my book.
There are similar ways to create comparative and superlative forms in Latin.
Positive Degree (Gradus positivus)
It is the natural form of adjectives. In positive degree, adjectives are not comparative, nor superlative.
bonus -a -um (good)
brevis -e (little)
Comparative Degree (Gradus comparativus)
This degree is used to compare two things by using the same quality. First things first is to remove the genitive endings of a Latin adjectives to form the comparative degree. After removing the ending, you will have the base of the adjective.
trīstis (sad) trīst-is = trīst - the base
Second step is to add -ior for masculine and feminine, and -ius for the neuter to the base.
formula; base + ior = comparative form (masculine and feminine)
base + ius = comparative form (neuter)
examples; trīst + ior = trīstior (m./f.)
trīst + ius = trīstius (n.)
The comparative forms are decline like the third declension of adjectives. However, there are some differences:
Important note: Unlike in English, the comparative can mean 'rather', 'quite', or 'too' in Latin. For example; 'longior' can mean 'too long', 'quite long' or 'rather long'.
Superlative Degree ( Gradus superlativus)
This degree is used to express the highest quality of a thing. To create superlative degree, again, remove the genitive ending. There are three suffixes to add to the base. The most common suffix is -issim-. The others are -errim- , and -lim-.
formula: base + issim + us(mas.)/a(fem.)/um(neu.) = superlative form
example: long + issim + us/a/um = longissimus -a, -um
All adjectives endings in -er ( e. g. pulcher, celere, sacer...) will have -errim- to form superlative.
formula: base + errim + us(mas.)/a(fem.)/um(neu.) = superlative form
example: pulch + errim + us/a/um = pulcherrimus -a, -um
A few words end in -lis (facilis, difficilis, gracilis, similis, dissimilis, gracilis, humilis). These ones will have -lim- as the suffix to the base to form superlative.
formula: base + lim + us(mas.)/a(fem.)/um(neu.) = superlative form
example: dissimil + lim + us/a/um = dissimillimus -a, -um
Important note: If a superlative is followed by 'quam', the meaning will be 'as...possible'. For example, 'quam humillimus' means 'as low as possible'.
Periphrastic Degrees
Adjectives whose stems end on a vowel(e.g. arduus, pius...) get magis (more) to form comparative, and maxime (most) to form superlative.
arduus, -a, -um (steep)
comparative: magis arduus, -a, -um superlative: maxime arduus, -a, -um
Iregular adjectivesThere are some irregular adjectives. Some common ones are:
Positive Comparative Superlative
bonus (good) melior optimus
malus (bad) peior pessimus
magnus (great) maior maximus
multus (much) plūs plūrimus
paruus (small) minor minimus
exterus (external) exterior extremus
īnferus (below) inferior infimus
For example: I am taller than you.
She is the tallest in my classroom.
It is more beautiful than the other.
This subject is the most complicated one in my book.
There are similar ways to create comparative and superlative forms in Latin.
Positive Degree (Gradus positivus)
It is the natural form of adjectives. In positive degree, adjectives are not comparative, nor superlative.
bonus -a -um (good)
brevis -e (little)
Comparative Degree (Gradus comparativus)
This degree is used to compare two things by using the same quality. First things first is to remove the genitive endings of a Latin adjectives to form the comparative degree. After removing the ending, you will have the base of the adjective.
trīstis (sad) trīst-is = trīst - the base
Second step is to add -ior for masculine and feminine, and -ius for the neuter to the base.
formula; base + ior = comparative form (masculine and feminine)
base + ius = comparative form (neuter)
examples; trīst + ior = trīstior (m./f.)
trīst + ius = trīstius (n.)
The comparative forms are decline like the third declension of adjectives. However, there are some differences:
- The ablative, singular ending is -e, not -ī.
- The neuter, accusative, plural ending is -a, not -ia.
- The genitive, plural ending is -um, not -ium.
Important note: Unlike in English, the comparative can mean 'rather', 'quite', or 'too' in Latin. For example; 'longior' can mean 'too long', 'quite long' or 'rather long'.
Superlative Degree ( Gradus superlativus)
This degree is used to express the highest quality of a thing. To create superlative degree, again, remove the genitive ending. There are three suffixes to add to the base. The most common suffix is -issim-. The others are -errim- , and -lim-.
formula: base + issim + us(mas.)/a(fem.)/um(neu.) = superlative form
example: long + issim + us/a/um = longissimus -a, -um
All adjectives endings in -er ( e. g. pulcher, celere, sacer...) will have -errim- to form superlative.
formula: base + errim + us(mas.)/a(fem.)/um(neu.) = superlative form
example: pulch + errim + us/a/um = pulcherrimus -a, -um
A few words end in -lis (facilis, difficilis, gracilis, similis, dissimilis, gracilis, humilis). These ones will have -lim- as the suffix to the base to form superlative.
formula: base + lim + us(mas.)/a(fem.)/um(neu.) = superlative form
example: dissimil + lim + us/a/um = dissimillimus -a, -um
Important note: If a superlative is followed by 'quam', the meaning will be 'as...possible'. For example, 'quam humillimus' means 'as low as possible'.
Periphrastic Degrees
Adjectives whose stems end on a vowel(e.g. arduus, pius...) get magis (more) to form comparative, and maxime (most) to form superlative.
arduus, -a, -um (steep)
comparative: magis arduus, -a, -um superlative: maxime arduus, -a, -um
Iregular adjectivesThere are some irregular adjectives. Some common ones are:
Positive Comparative Superlative
bonus (good) melior optimus
malus (bad) peior pessimus
magnus (great) maior maximus
multus (much) plūs plūrimus
paruus (small) minor minimus
exterus (external) exterior extremus
īnferus (below) inferior infimus
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