COMPARISON OF ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

CHARACTERISTICS OF ADJECTIVES Most adjectives describe the quality of an object E.G.: pretty girl; brave boy

BUT - - one girl may be prettier than another and one boy may be braver than another. AND THEN - - there is the prettiest girl and the bravest boy.

DEGREE This difference in amount between pretty, prettier and prettiest is called DEGREE

The comparative is used only when comparing two objects. The superlative is used when comparing more than two objects.

In English, the comparative is regularly formed by adding -er to the positive: large, larger. Sometimes the adverb more is used with the positive: frequent, more frequent. The superlative is regularly formed by adding -est to the positive: large … largest. Sometimes the adverb most is used with the positive: frequent … most frequent.

Sometimes a comparative is implied but not expressed. It is then expressed with the adverbs too or rather: –This lesson is too short. –This lesson is rather short. Sometimes the superlative is used to show that a noun has a quality in a very high degree but not necessarily the highest. It is then expressed with the adverb very: –A very brave man...

The comparative of adjectives is regularly formed by adding -ior for the masculine and feminine and -ius for the neuter to the base of the positive

The superlative of adjectives is regularly formed by adding -issimus, -a, -um to the base of the positive

Some adjectives have an unusual comparison. All adjectives whose masculine singular in the positive degree ends in -er form the superlative by adding -rimus to this positive.

Six adjectives whose masculine singular in the positive ends in -lis form the superlative by adding -limus to the base of the positive.

ADVERBS Adverbs are formed from adjectival forms. –POSITIVE DEGREE first and second declension add -e to the base third declension adds -iter to the base –COMPARATIVE DEGREE the comparative nominative neuter form is used: -ius –SUPERLATIVE FORM add the -e ending to the nominative masculine superlative form

EXAMPLES OF REGULAR ADVERBS

EXEMPLI GRATIA: Testudo non celeris est. Ea tarde, non celeriter currit. Cuniculus celerior quam testudo est. Hic celeriter currit, celerius quam testudo. Columbus celerior quam testudo cuniculusque est. Celerrimus omnium est. Ille celerrime, celerius quam testudo cuniculusque currit.