3. Good, better, best,
Never let it rest.
’Til your good is better,
And your better best. St. Jerome
Positive Comparative Superlative
tall taller, more tall,
rather tall, too tall
tallest, very tall,
most tall, extremely tall
big bigger, more big,
rather big, too big
biggest, very big,
most big, extremely big
long longer, more long,
rather long, too long
longest, very long,
most long, extremely long
small smaller, more small,
rather small, too small
smallest, very small,
most small, extremely small
4. You form the comparative by adding
–ior (m. & f.) –ius (n.)
to the base of the positive.
Positive Comparative
clarus,clara,clarum clarior, clarius
famous more famous, rather famous
fortis,forte fortior, fortius
brave braver, rather brave
longus,longa,longum longior, longius
long longer, too long
audax (audacis) audacior, audacius
daring more daring, too daring
7. You form the superlative by adding
–issimus,a,um
to the base of the positive.
Positive Superlative
clarus,clara,clarum clarissimus,a,um
famous most famous, very famous
fortis,forte fortissimus,a,um
brave bravest, most brave
longus,longa,longum longissimus,a,um
long longest, extremely long
audax (audacis) audacissimus,a,um
daring most daring, extremely daring
8. Declining an us, a, um adjective
US A UM
I AE I
O AE O
UM AM UM
O A O
I AE A
ORUM ARUM ORUM
IS IS IS
OS AS A
IS IS IS
9. Positive Comparative Superlative
potens(potentis) potentior, potentius potentissimus, -a, -um
strong stronger strongest
altus,alta,altum altior, altius altissimus, -a, -um
high more high most high
The Whole Enchilada…, i.e. Summary:
10. For adjectives ending in –er or –ilis:
“superlative RL Words”,
i.e. words that end not –issimus,a,um
but in -errimus,a,um or –illimus,a,um
How do I know an “RL Word”?
1) Any adjective whose nominative masculine singular ends in –r
e.g., pulcher, pulchra,pulchrum < pulcherrimus,a,um
acer,acris,acre < acerrimus,a,um
celer, celeris,celere < celerrimus,a,um
miser,misera,miserum < miserrimus,a,um
2) The following four adjectives whose base ends in –l,
facilis,-e < facillimus,a,um
difficilis,-e < difficillimus,a,um
similis,-e < simillimus,a,um
dissimilis,-e < disimillimus,a,um
12. Comparison (2)
Use “quam + same case”
Iulius Caesar est clarior quam Papirius.
Julius Caesar is more famous than Papirius.
Ego non laudavi hominem clariorem quam Caesarem.
I have not praised a person more famous than Caesar.
Non habitavimus in urbe clariore quam Romā.
We have not lived in a city more famous than Rome.
13. Comparison (2)
If the first item compared is nominative or accusative,
Latin may use the “Ablative of Comparison”.
Iulius Caesar est clarior quam Papirius.
Or
Iulius Caesar est clarior Papirio.
Julius Caesar is more famous than Papirius.
Ego non laudavi hominem clariorem quam Caesarem.
Or
Ego non laudavi hominem clariorem Caesare.
I have not praised a person more famous than Caesar.
14. Sententiae Antiquae
Risu inepto res ineptior nulla est. Catullus 39
There is no situation more foolish than foolish laughter.
…fortis, laeta, fortis, laetissima. RL Song
Strong, Happy, Strong, VERY happy!
Tua consilia omnia nobis clariora sunt quam lux.
All your plans are clearer to us than light. Cicero
Quid est stultius quam incerta pro certis habere, falsa pro veris?
stultus,a,um–stupid pro + abl.– in place of
What is more stupid than to have the unsure in place of the sure,
the false in place of the true? Cicero
15. Quam miserum est ubi consilium casu vincitur!
Publius Syrus, Sententia 549
How sad it is when a plan is overcome by a slipup/chance!
Amor est magister optimus.
Pliny the Younger, Epistulae 4.19.4
Love is the best teacher.
Melior est canis vivus leone mortuo.
Ecclesiastes 9.4(St. Jerome)
A live dog is better than a dead lion.
Sententiae Antiquae
