REGULAR COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES
[300.] The quality denoted by an adjective may exist in either a higher or a lower degree, and this is expressed by a form of inflection called comparison. The mere presence of the quality is expressed by the positive degree, its presence in a higher or lower degree by the comparative, and in the highest or lowest of all by the superlative. In English the usual way of comparing an adjective is by using the suffix -er for the comparative and -est for the superlative; as, positive high, comparative higher, superlative highest. Less frequently we use the adverbs more and most; as, positive beautiful, comparative more beautiful, superlative most beautiful.
In Latin, as in English, adjectives are compared by adding suffixes or by using adverbs.
[301.] Adjectives are compared by using suffixes as follows:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
|---|---|---|
|
clārus, -a, -um (bright) (Base clār-) | clārior, clārīus (brighter) | clārissimus, -a, -um (brightest) |
|
brevis, breve (short) (Base brev-) | brevior, brevius (shorter) | brevissimus, -a, -um (shortest) |
|
vēlōx (swift) (Base veloc-) | vēlōcior, vēlōcius (swifter) | vēlōcissimus, -a, -um (swiftest) |
a. The comparative is formed from the base of the positive by adding -ior masc. and fem., and -ius neut.; the superlative by adding -issimus, -issima, -issimum.
[302.] Less frequently adjectives are compared by using the adverbs magis, more; maximē, most; as, idōneus, suitable; magis idōneus, more suitable; maximē idōneus, most suitable.
[303.] Declension of the Comparative. Adjectives of the comparative degree are declined as follows:
| Singular | Plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MASC. AND FEM. | NEUT. | MASC. AND FEM. | NEUT. | |
| Nom. | clārior | clārīus | clāriōrēs | clāriōra |
| Gen. | clāriōris | clāriōris | clāriōrum | clāriōrum |
| Dat. | clāriōrī | clāriōrī | clāriōribus | clāriōribus |
| Acc. | clāriōrem | clārius | clāriōrēs | clāriōra |
| Abl. | clāriōre | clāriōre | clāriōribus | clāriōribus |
a. Observe that the endings are those of the consonant stems of the third declension.