Chapter 34Degrees of Adjectives

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Positive degreePositive degree

altus, alta, altum: high/tall/deep

Haec arbor est altaalta.This tree is talltall.

fortis, forte-brave/strongVir conduxit fortesfortes lecticarios.

The man hired strongstrong litter-bearers.

Positive degree adjectives are used simply to describe something

Declension of positive Declension of positive degreedegree

Adjectives of positive degree are either Adjectives of positive degree are either in 1in 1stst/2/2ndnd declension or 3 declension or 3rdrd declension. declension.

altus alta altumalti altae altialto altae altoaltum altam altumalto altā alto

alti altae altaaltorum altarum altorumaltis altis altis altos altas altaaltis altis altis

fortis fortis fortefortis fortis fortisforti forti fortifortem fortem forteforti forti forti

fortes fortes fortiafortium fortium fortiumfortibus fortibus fortibusfortes fortes fortiafortibus fortibus fortibus

Singular Plural

1st/2nd

3rd

Comparative degreeComparative degree

Two nouns being compared must be the same case.Two nouns being compared must be the same case.

Used when comparing one noun to another.

This tree is taller than that tree.Haec arbor est altioraltior quam illa arbor.

The man hired stronger litterbearers.Vir conduxi fortioresfortiores lecticarios

Forming comparative Forming comparative degree from positive degree degree from positive degree adjectiveadjective

OR one can translate comparative degree using more rather too

1st/2nd declension adjectivesaltus, alta, altum

high, tall, deep1. Find the base in the feminine form minus the feminine ending: alta – a = alt-2. Add –ior, -ius = altior, altius

higher, taller, deeper

3rd declension adjectivesfortis, forte

brave, strong1. Find the base in the feminine form minus the feminine ending: fortis – is = fort-2. Add –ior, -ius = fortior, fortius

braver, stronger

Declining comparative Declining comparative degreedegree

altior altior altiusaltioris altioris altiorisaltiori altiori altiorialtiorem altiorem altiusaltiore altiore altiore

altiores altiores altioraaltiorum altiorum altiorumaltioribus altioribus altioribusaltiores altiores altioraaltioribus altioribus altioribus

fortior fortior fortiusfortioris fortioris fortiorisfortiori fortiori fortiori fortiorem fortiorem fortiusfortiore fortiore fortiore

fortiores fortiores fortiorafortiorum fortiorum fortiorumfortioribus fortioribus fortioribusfortiores fortiores fortiorafortioribus fortioribus fortioribus

Comparative degree adjectives are all 3rd declension, regardless of the declension of their positive degree

Singular Plural

Superlative degreeSuperlative degreeUsed when comparing one noun to a group.

This tree is the tallest.Haec arbor est altissimaaltissima.

The man hired the strongest litterbearers.Vir conduxit fortissimosfortissimos lecticarios.

Forming superlative degree Forming superlative degree from positive degree adjectivefrom positive degree adjective

11stst/2/2ndnd declension adjectives declension adjectivesaltus, alta, altumaltus, alta, altum

high, tall, deephigh, tall, deep1. Find the base in the feminine form minus the feminine ending: alta – a = alt-1. Find the base in the feminine form minus the feminine ending: alta – a = alt-2. Add –issimus, -issima, -issimum=altissimus, altissima, altissimum2. Add –issimus, -issima, -issimum=altissimus, altissima, altissimum

highest, tallest, deepesthighest, tallest, deepest

33rdrd declension adjectives declension adjectivesfortis, fortefortis, forte

brave, strongbrave, strong1. Find the base in the feminine form minus the feminine ending: fortis – is = fort-1. Find the base in the feminine form minus the feminine ending: fortis – is = fort-2.2. Add –issimus, -issima, -issimum=fortissimus, fortissima, fortissimumAdd –issimus, -issima, -issimum=fortissimus, fortissima, fortissimum

bravest, strongestbravest, strongest

OR one can translate superlative degree using very

Declining superlative Declining superlative degreedegree

altissimus altissima altissimumaltissimi altissimae altissimialtissimo altissimae altissimoaltissimum altissimam altissimumaltissimo altissima altissimo

altissimi altissimae altissimaaltissimorum altissimarum altissimorumaltissimis altissimis altissimisaltissimos altissimas altissimaaltissimis altissimis altissimis

fortissimus fortissima fortissimumfortissimi fortissimae fortissimifortissimo fortissimae fortissimofortissimum fortissimam fortissimumfortissimo fortissima fortissmo

fortissimi fortissimae fortissimafortissimorum fortissimarum fortissimorumfortissimis fortissimis fortissimisfortissimos fortissimas fortissimafortissimis fortissmis fortissimis

All superlative degree adjectives are 1st/2nd declension, regardless of the declension of their positive degree

Singular Plural