Comparison of Adverbs
Chapter XXXII
Comparison of Adverbs
The adverbs we’ve learned so far are used to describe a
basic characteristic of the noun they modify.
clārē = famously
acriter = sharply
This is called the “positive” degree of the adverb.
Comparison of Adverbs
Just like in English, Latin adverbs can be
used to show that an action has a greater
degree of a certain characteristic than
others, or more than is usual or
customary.
Comparison of Adverbs
The ‘comparative’ degree is used to compare one person
or thing with just one other.
The ‘superlative’ degree is used to compare a person or
thing with two or more others.
Positive: famously
Comparative: more famously
Superlative: most famously
Forming Comparatives
The steps to form the Comparative Degree are based on
the stem of the adjective:
1.
Find stem of the adjective
•
•
2.
clārus, a, um
felix, felicis
Add the comparative adverb ending.
•
-ius (this is the same as the Neuter Comparative Adjective)
Forming Superlatives
The steps to form the Superlative Degree are also based
on the stem of the adjective:
1.
Find stem of the adjective
•
•
2.
clārus, a, um
felix, felicis
Add the superlative adverb endings
•
issimē
Formation of Comparatives and
Superlatives
Pos.
Comp.
Super.
clārē
clārius
clārissimē
feliciter
felicius
felicissimē
Practice
1.
2.
3.
4.
comparative adverb of laetus, a, um
superlative adverb of aequus, a, um
comparative adverb of sapiēns, sapientis
superlative adverb of fortis, fortis
Quam
Quam and the comparative:
When quam follows a comparative, it functions
as a coordinating conjunction meaning ‘than’
and linking the things being compared.
The same case or construction that precedes
quam follows it as well.
Hic vir fortius pugnāvit quam egō.
This man fought more bravely than I.
Quam
Quam and the superlative:
When quam precedes a superlative, it acts
adverbially and indicates that the thing modified
has the greatest possible degree of a quality.
“as ______ as possible”
Eg: Senātus consilium ducī dixit quam celerrimē.
The senate told the plan to the leader as
quickly as possible.
Ablative of Comparison
When the first element to be compared is in
the nominative or accusative case, the
second element is often used in the
ablative case (no quam) to show the
comparison.
Eg: Filia eius pulchrius canit feminā.
His daughter sings more beautifully
than the woman.
Peculiar Superlatives
The six adjectives . . .
facilis
difficilis
gracilis
similis
dissimilis
humilis
that are peculiar in their superlative adjective
forms use those same forms in the
formation of their adverbs.
Peculiar Superlatives
The six adjectives . . .
facilis
similis
difficilis
dissimilis
gracilis
humilis
facillimē
simillimē
difficillimē
dissimillimē
gracillimē
humillimē
Peculiar Superlatives
2) Any adjective with a masculine ending in –er, though
forming regularly in the comparative, forms the
superlative by adding –rimus directly to the masculine
–er, NOT to the base.
Ex:
Positive
pulcher, -chra, -chrum
Comparative pulchrior, -ius
Superlative
pulcherrimus, -a, -um
Peculiar Superlatives
2) Any adjective with a masculine ending in –er, though
forming regularly in the comparative, forms the
superlative by adding –rimus directly to the masculine
–er, NOT to the base.
Ex:
pulcher, -chra, -chrum
pulchrior, -ius
pulcherrimus, -a, -um
Adverb
pulchrē
pulchrius
pulcherrimē
Irregular Comparison
There are a handful of adjectives which are
so irregular that their forms will just have
to be memorized.
Luckily, we get a lot of English derivatives
from these words!
These adjectives include:
Irregular Comparison
Positive
Comparative
Superlative
bene
melius
optimē
magnopere
maius
maximē
male
peius
pessimē
multum
plus
plurimum
parum
minus
minimē
------
prior,-ius
primum
Homework?
• HW 41