Gradatio adiectivorum (comparison of adjectives)
• gradus positivus
• gradus comparativus
• gradus superlativus
Comparative degree
gradus comparativus
Stem of the adjective + - ior (m/f)
Stem of the adjective + - ius (n)
e.g.
Gradus positivus Gradus comparativus
Nominativus Genetivus Stem masculinum/femininum neutrum
longus - long longi long- longior - longer longius - longer
altus - high alti alt- altior altius
brevis - short brevis brev- brevior brevius
acer - sharp acris acr- acrior acrius
recens - recent recentis recent- recentior recentius
Nota bene!
Gradus comparativus of the adjectives is declined in the third declension as for type of consonant.
SINGULARIS
CASUS masculinum femininum neutrum
Nominativus altior altior altius
Genetivus altioris altioris altioris
Dativus altiori altiori altiori
Accusativus altiorem altiorem altius
Ablativus altiore altiore altiore
Vocativus altior! altior! altius!
PLURALIS
CASUS masculinum femininum neutrum
Nominativus altiores altiores altiora
Genetivus altiorum altiorum altiorum
Dativus altioribus altioribus altioribus
Accusativus altiores altiores altiora
Ablativus altioribus altioribus altioribus
Vocativus altiores! altiores! altiora!
Nota bene!
We can make the form of Genetivus sing. when we attach suffix – ioris to the stem of
adjective.
Superlative degree
gradus superlativus
Stem of the adjective + -issĭmus (masculinum), -issĭma (femininum), -issĭmum (neutrum):
e.g.
Gradus positivus Gradus superlativus
Nominativus Genetivus Stem masculinum femininum neutrum
sing. sing.
longus longi long- longissĭmus – the longissĭma – the longissĭmum – the
longest longest longest
altus alti alt- altissĭmus altissĭma altissĭmum
brevis brevis brev- brevissĭmus brevissĭma brevissĭmum
recens recentis recent- recentissĭmus recentissĭma recentissĭmum
The adjectives that have -er in Nom. sing. the masculine form make gradus superlativus in the
irregular way:
Nom. sing. masculinum + -rĭmus (masculinum), -rĭma (femininum), -rĭmum (neutrum)
e.g.
Gradus positivus Gradus superlativus
Nominativus sing. masculinum femininum neutrum
(m) acer - sharp acerrĭmus – the acerrĭma - the acerrĭmum - the
(f) acris sharpest sharpest sharpest
(n) acre
(m) celer - fast celerrĭmus celerrĭma celerrĭmum
(f) celeris
(n) celere
The adjectives (6) that end with -ilis in Nom. sing.
• facilis, e – easy
• difficilis, e – difficult
• similis, e – similiar
• dissimilis, e – dissimiliar
• gracilis, e – slim
• humilis, e – low, weak
make gradus superlativus in the irregular way:
Stem of the adjective + -lĭmus (masculinum), -lĭma (femininum), -lĭmum (neutrum):
e.g.
Gradus positivus Gradus superlativus
Nominativus Genetivus Stem masculinum femininum neutrum
sing. sing.
facilis - easy facilis facil- facillĭmus – the facillĭma - the facillĭmum - the
easiest easiest easiest
difficilis difficilis difficil- difficillĭmus difficillĭma difficillĭmum
The adjectives that end with -eus, -ius, -uus in Nom. sing. masculine form:
• gradus comparativus is made by using magis (more) before the adjective
• gradus superlativus is made by using maxime ( the most) before the adjective
e.g.
Gradus positivus Gradus comparativus Gradus superlativus
idoneus, a, um - suitable magis idoneus, a, um – more maxime idoneus, a, um – the
suitable most suitable
varius, a, um - various magis varius, a, um maxime varius, a, um
strenuus, a, um - strong magis strenuus, a, um maxime strenuus, a, um
The adjectives that have different forms for comparative and superlative degree:
e.g.
Gradus positivus Gradus comparativus Gradus superlativus
m/f/n m/f n m/f/n
bonus, a, um – good melior – better melius - optĭmus, a, um – the best
better
malus, a, um – bad peior – worse peius - pessĭmus, a, um – the worst
worse
magnus, a, um – big maior – bigger maius - maxĭmus, a, um – the biggest
bigger
parvus, a, um – small minor – smaller minus - minĭmus, a, um – the smallest
smaller
multus, a, um - much - plus - more plurimus, a, um – the most
multi, ae, a - many plures - more plura - plurimi, ae, a – the most
more
Nota bene !
Gradus superlativus of the adjectives is declined in the first or second declension depending on
gender:
• decl. II masculinum
• decl. I femininum
• decl. II neutrum
The adjectives that have form of comparative degree, but the meaning of positive degree:
e.g.
Gradus comparativus Nota bene!
superior (m/f) - upper
superius (n) These adjectives are declined in the third
declension as for type of consonant.
inferior (m/f) - lower
inferius (n)
anterior (m/f) - front
anterius (n)
posterior (m/f) - back
posterius (n)
1. Please complete the table:
CASUS SINGULARIS PLURALIS
Nominativus
Genetivus
Dativus ossibus latioribus
Accusativus
Ablativus
Vocativus os latius!
2. Please complete the table:
positivus comparativus superlativus
sapientior
bonum
peior
idoneus
maxima
altius
facilis
pulcherrimus
breve
