Comparative Degree of Adjectives

Transcription

1 Caput XXII Grammar

2 Comparative Degree of Adjectives

3 Comparative Degree of Adjectives * Just like adjectives in English, Latin adjectives have degrees of comparison * smart smarter smartest * tired more tired most tired * light lighter lightest

4 Comparative Degree of Adjectives * These degrees of comparison are called * Positive: durus hard * Comparative: durior harder * Superlative: durissimus hardest

5 Comparative Degree of Adjectives * The comparative degree is formed by adding ior to the stem of the positive * This applies to all adjectives, including those of both the 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd declensions (there are not adjectives for the fourth or fifth declensions).

6 Comparative Degree of Adjectives * The superlative degree is formed by adding issimus to the stem of the positive

7 Comparative Degree of Adjectives * Adjectives that end in er have a superlative ending in rimus acrimus pulchrimus miserimus

8 Comparative Degree of Adjectives * Adjectives that end in lis have a superlative ending in limus facilior easier facillimus easiest difficilior more difficult difficillimus most difficult dissimilior more unlike dissimillimus most unlike gracilior humilior lowlier humillimus lowliest more slender gracillimus most slender

9 Irregular Comparatives of Adjectives

10 Irregular Comparatives of Adjectives * For many adjectives, the comparative and superlative degrees are quite different from the positive. Some are irregular in both English and Latin. * good better best * bad worse worst * much more most

11 Irregular Comparatives of Adjectives * In the first group of adjectives, the stem of the comparative and superlative degrees are not the same as the stem of the positive

12 Irregular Comparatives of Adjectives * In the next group, some comparatives and superlatives corresponded to adverbs derived from the same stem * The first four do have positive adjectives, but they are rare and more common in the plural (superi, the gods above ).

13 Irregular Comparatives of Adjectives * Adjectives ending in eus and ius form the comparative by adding magis, more, and the superlative by adding maxime, most.

14 Declension of the Comparative and Superlative

15 Declension of the Comparative and Superlative * The comparative ending ior is declined like a third declension adjective of two terminations, but the ablative singular ends in e and the genitive plural in um.

16 Declension of the Comparative and Superlative brevior brevius brevioris breviori breviorem brevius breviore breviores breviora breviorum brevioribus breviores (- is) breviora brevioribus

17 Declension of the Comparative and Superlative longior longius longioris longiori longiorem longius longiore longiores longiora longiorum longioribus longiores (- is) longiora longioribus

18 Declension of the Comparative and Superlative * Adjectives of the superlative degree follow the same pattern as adjectives of the 1 st and 2 nd declension. pulcherrimus pulcherrima pulcherrimum pulcherrimi pulcherrimae pulcherrima pulcherrimi pulcherrimae pulcherrimi pulcherrimorum pulcherrimarum pulcherrimorum pulcherrimo pulcherrimae pulcherrimo pulcherrimis pulcherrimis pulcherrimis pulcherrimum pulcherrimam pulcherrimum pulcherrimos pulcherrimas pulcherrima pulcherrimo pulcherrima pulcherrimo pulcherrimis pulcherrimis pulcherrimis

19 bonus, - a, um melior, melius optimus, - a, - um

20 amoenus, - a, um amoenior, amoenius amoenissimus, - a, - um

21 tacitus, - a, um tacitior, tacitius tacitissimus, - a, - um

22 durus, - a, um durior, durius durissimus, - a, - um

23 mollis, molle mollior, mollius mollimus, - a, - um

24 magnus, - a, um maior, maius maximus, - a, - um

25 ferox, ferocis ferocior, ferocius ferocissimus, - a, - um

26 insanus, - a, um insanior, insanius insanissimus, - a, - um

27 dulcis, dulce dulcior, dulcius dulcissimus, - a, - um

28 frigidus, - a, um frigidior, frigidius frigidissimus, - a, - um

29 calidus, - a, um calidior, calidius calidissimus, - a, - um

30 malus, - a, um peior, peius pessimus, - a, - um

31 Comparative Statements

32 Comparative Statements * To make a comparative statement, Latin uses the a form of esse, a comparative adjective and the word quam. * (sg. noun) est (comparative adjective) quam (other sg. noun) Marius est intellegentior quam Sullus. * (pl. noun) sunt (pl. comparative adjective) quam (other pl. noun) Montes sunt altiores quam arbores.

33 * Quid animal est maior quam papilio?

34 * Quid animal est maior cum voce quam apis?

35 * Quid animal est ferocior quam leo?

36 * Quid animal est minor quam cervus?

37 * Quid animal est pulchrior quam felis?

38 * Quid animal est melior quam aranea?

39 * Quid animal est tacitior quam mus?

40 * Quid animal est destinatior quam asinus?

41 * Quid animal est intellegentior quam elephans?

42 * Quid animal est insanior quam simius?