DEGREES OF SIGNIFICANCE

Comparative degree

 The systematic degrees of comparison are: inferiority, equality and superiority. The comparison of inferiority and equality is made with an adverb that modifies the adjective in positive degree and the second term (which will be in the same case as the first) introduced by quam.

  Titus minus doctus quam Marcus est.

  Titus tam doctus quam Marcus est.

The comparison of superiority in Latin offers a different system. The periphrasis magis … quam (more … than) can be found in Latin, but in very few adjectives (those ending in -eus,-ius,-uus). The comparative of superiority is formed regularly with the suffix -ior,-ius, added to the root of the adjective. This suffix is declined by the third declension. An example with the comparative of superiority of the adjective fortis,-e:

	Singular		Plural
	Masculine/feminine	Neuter	Masculine/feminine	Neuter
Nominative	fortior	fortius	fortiores	fortiora
Vocative	fortior	fortius	fortiores	fortiora
Accusative	fortiorem	fortius	fortiores	fortiora
Genitive	fortioris		fortiorum
Dative	fortiori		fortioribus
Ablative	fortiore		fortioribus

The second term of this comparative superiority can be expressed in Latin in the same way as in the comparative of inferiority and equality introduced by quam and in the same case that the first term:

Titus doctior quam Marcus est.

But when the first term is in the nominative, vocative or accusative, the second term can also be expressed in ablative (comparative ablative), without a particle:

Titus doctior Marco est.

Superlative degree

The superlative degree of adjectives express a quality in a high degree. In Latin it is formed with the following suffixes, all declined as adjectives of the first class, added to the root of the adjective:

    -issimus, -a, -um: is the suffix used by most of the adjectives.

    -errimus, -a, -um: for adjectives ending in -er (pulcher, superl.: pulcherrimus).

    -limus, -a, -um: for some adjectives ending in -lis (facilis, superl.: facillimus).

The superlative may appear as absolute form (mons altissimus, ‘a very high mountain’), or in a relative form (mons altissimus omnium montium, ‘the highest of all mountains’). On the relative superlative the second term can be expressed in the following ways:

    – In genitive: mons altissimus omnium montium.

    – Ex + ablative: mons altissimus ex omnibus montibus.

    – Inter + accusative: mons altissimus inter omnes montes.

IRREGULAR COMPARATIVES & SUPERLATIVES

POSITIVE	COMPARATIVE OF SUPERIORITY	SUPERLATIVE
bonus (good)	melior	optimus
malus (bad)	peior	pessimus
magnus (big)	maior	maximus
parvus (small)	minor	minimus