Adjective and Adverb Comparison

Adjectives - different forms for use

• Positive Degree - dictionary entry (-us, -a, -um) (-is, -is, -e)
• Comparative Degree - more ___ / rather ___ / ____er
• Superlative Degree - most ___ / very ___ / ____est

Positive Degree

• Simply the dictionary entry + endings needed
• Ex. Laetus, Laeta, Laetum
• Happy

Comparative Degree

• Stem (positive - ending) + -ior + 3rd dec. endings
• Laetus ----> laetior
• Laetior, laetioris, laetiori, laetiorem, etc.
• Rather happy, happier

Superlative Degree

• Stem + -issimus, -a, -um (1st and 2nd dec. endings)
• Tardus -----> tardissimus
• tardissimus, tardissimi, tardissimo, etc.
• slowest, most slow, very slow

Superlative variations

• If stem ends with an R, you add -errimus, -a, -um
• Ex. miser ----> miserrimus
• If stem ends with an L, you add -illimus, -a, -um
• Facilis -----> facillimus

Irregular Adjectives

• Bonus (good) ----> melior (better) ---> optimus (best)
• Malus (bad) ----> peior (worse) ---> pessimus (worst)
• Magnus (great) --> maior (bigger) ---> maximus (biggest)

Irregular adjectives

• Parvus (small) ---> minor (smaller) ---> minimus (smallest)
• Multus (much) ---> plus (more) ---> plurimus (most)
• Multi (many) ---> plures (more) ---> plurimi (very many)

Adverbs

• Describes a verb
• How/when the verb happened
• 90% of the time translated as "-ly"

Averb formation (1st and 2nd dec.)

• Take adjective (laetus)
• take off -us (laet-)
• add -e (laete)
• happily

Adverb formation (3rd dec.)

• Take adjective (brevis)
• take of -is (brev-)
• add -itur (brevitur)
• briefly

Comparative

• Take stem (adverb without -e or -itur)
• add -ius
• laetius = more happily
• brevius = rather briefly

Superlative

• Take stem
• add -issimē, -errimē, or -illimē
• laetissimē = most happily
• brevissimē = very briefly

Reflection

• I chose this topic because I've understood adjectives and adverbs
• since they were first introduced to us in elementary school english.
• So finally understanding what it meant to say "more happy" was a
• very simple concept for me to understand in Latin

The End