 Most adjectives use the following superlative form:  1. find the base inimicus, inimica, inimicum inimic--- (drop the –a or -is to get the base)  2. add -issim- to the base of the adjective inimicissim---  3. add 1-2 nd declension endings to the –issim- inimicissimos pueros  4. when you add the endings they must agree with the noun in gender, number and case

She is a very irritating girl Est puella molestissima molestus, molesta, molestum drop the a molest--- add the issim--- Make the ending agree with puella molestissima

I was fighting with a very strong soldier. Cum fortissimo milite pugnabam fortis, forte get the base by dropping the –is fort --- add -issim- fortissim- make the ending agree with milite fortisssimo

 What declension endings are used for ALL superlative forms? 1 st and 2 nd  What determines the case, number and gender of the ending for the adjective ? The noun it modifies.  Do superlative forms always match the noun they modify?  NO

 There are three ways to translate a superlative  most…  very…  ----est

 a very friendly dog (acc. singular) canis, canis; amicus, amica, amicum  a most irritating woman (dat. sing.) molestus, molesta, molestum; femina, feminae  the happiest days (acc. pl.) laetus, laeta, laetum; dies, diei (this noun is masc.)

 canem amicissimum  feminae molestissimae  laetissimos dies

 When you put quam next to the superlative adjective it indicates the highest degree possible.  Translate the adjective using the phrase as------as possible  When you do this you no longer use most, very or ---est

 quam laetissima sum I am as happy as possible

 Only adjectives that end in –er in the masculine, singular follow these steps. Words like acer, acris; miser, misera, miserum  Take the word that ends in –er acer  Do NOT drop anything acer  Add –rim- acerrim--  Use 1 st -2 nd decl endings accerrimos milites

 acerrimos milites = very fierce soldiers  pulcherrimam urbem = the most beautiful city  miserrimus servus = very miserable slave

 Notice that for these adjectives you do NOT get the base of the adjective  You always use the word that ends in -er

 The most miserable soldiers – nom. pl.  A very beautiful woman - acc. sing.  The swiftest horse - dat. sing.

 milites miserrimos  feminam pulcherrimam  equo celerrimo

 There are six words that form the superlative in their own way.  The six words are:  difficilis  facilis  dissimilis  similis  humilis  gracilis

 Find the base  Add –lim-  Use 1 st -2 nd decl endings  A most difficult day – accusative singular  difficillimum diem  difficil - the base  difficillim – the base + lim—  difficillimum – the base + lim + ending which agrees with diem

Most Adjectives 1. Find the base 2. Add issim— 3. Add 1 st – 2 nd decl endings Adjectives ending in –er 1. Use the word ending in –er 2. Add -rim— 3. Add 1 st -2 nd decl endings Six Special Words 1. Find base 2. Add –lim- 3. Add 1 st – 2 nd decl endings