1) Comparatives:
1.1) Formation of comparatives:
stem plus -ior (m. f.) -ius (n.)
1.2) Declension of Comparatives:
follows mostly the third declension
| nom. | -ior | -ior | -ius |
| gen. | -ioris | -ioris | -ioris |
| dat. | -iori | -iori | -iori |
| acc. | -iorem | -iorem | -ius |
| abl. | -iore | -iore | -iore |
| pl nom. | -iores | -iores | -iora |
| pl gen. | -iorum | -iorum | -iorum |
| pl dat. | -ioribus | -ioribus | -ioribus |
| pl acc. | -iores | -iores | -iora |
| pl abl. | -ioribus | -ioribus | -ioribus |
1.3) usage of comparatives:
* with quam: Hi libri sunt clariores quam illi (These books are clearer than those).
When two qualities of an object are compared, both adjectives are in the Comparative:--
longior quam latior acies erat (the line was longer than it was broad).
* without quam: Vita ejus erat brevior. (meaning "rather")
* with ablative: Consilia tua sunt clariora luce.
Where magis is used, both adjectives are in the positive:--
clari magis quam honesti (more renowned than honorable).
2) Superlatives:
2.1) formation of superlatives:
by adding -issimus -issima -issimum to the stem.
e.g. altus -a -um -> altissimus altissima altissimum
* If the adjective has -er in nom. sg. m. simply add -rimus rima -rimum to form the superlative.
e.g. acer -cris -cre -> acerrimus acerrima acerrimum.
2.2) Declension of superlatives:
follows the first and second declension as "bonus, -a, -um".
2.3) usage of superlatives:
with quam, vel, or unus:
Amicus meus erat vir quam jucundissimus. (meaning of the greatest possible degree)
vel minimus (the very least).
vir unus doctissimus (the one most learned man).
without quam: Vita ejus erat brevissima. (meaning "very" )
The Superlative of eminence often used in complimentary references to persons. It also denotes a very high degree of a quality without implying a distinct comparison: as,--mons altissimus, a very high mountain.
Superlatives denoting order and succession usually designate not what object, but what part of it.:--
summus mons (the top of the hill).
in ultima platea (at the end of the place).
prior actio (the earlier part of an action).
3) Irregular comparisons:
*special formation of seven comparatives and superlatives:
| bonus -a -um (good) | melior melior melius | optimus -a -um |
| malus -a -um (bad) | peior peior peius | pessimus -a -um |
| magnus -a -um (great) | maior maior maius | maximus -a -um |
| parvus -a -um (small) | minor minor minus | minimus -a -um |
| multus -a -um (much) | - - plus | plurimus -a -um |
| - - - | prior prior prius (former) | primus -a -um (first) |
| superus -a -um (above) | superior superior superius (high) | supremus -a -um; summus -a -um (highest) |
N.B.: Adjectives ending in -us preceded by a vowel form comparative and superlative by adding magis and maxime respectively (except those ending in -quus).
e.g.: idoneus -a -um, magis idoneus -a -um, maxime idoneus -a -um.
except: antiquus -a -um, antiquior antiquior antiquius, antiquissimus -a -um.
*inflection of "plus":
| m.f. | n. sg. | m.f. pl. | n.pl. |
| - | plus | plures | plura |
| - | pluris | plurium | plurium |
| - | - | pluribus | pluribus |
| - | plus | plures | plura |
| - | plure | pluribus | pluribus |
*special formation of six superlatives:
|