Chapter 34 Degrees of Adjectives Biggest Big Bigger
Positive degree fortis, forte-brave/strong Positive degree adjectives are used simply to describe something fortis, forte-brave/strong Vir conduxit fortes lecticarios. The man hired strong litter-bearers. altus, alta, altum: high/tall/deep Haec arbor est alta. This tree is tall.
Declension of positive degree Adjectives of positive degree are either in 1st/2nd declension or 3rd declension. Singular Plural altus alta altum alti altae alti alto altae alto altum altam altum alto altā alto alti altae alta altorum altarum altorum altis altis altis altos altas alta 1st/2nd fortis fortis forte fortis fortis fortis forti forti forti fortem fortem forte fortes fortes fortia fortium fortium fortium fortibus fortibus fortibus 3rd
Comparative degree 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 altior quam illa arbor. The man hired stronger litterbearers. Vir conduxi fortiores lecticarios Two nouns being compared must be the same case.
Forming comparative degree from positive degree adjective 1st/2nd declension adjectives altus, alta, altum high, tall, deep 1. Find the base in the feminine form minus the feminine ending: alta – a = alt- Add –ior, -ius = altior, altius higher, taller, deeper 3rd declension adjectives fortis, forte brave, strong 1. Find the base in the feminine form minus the feminine ending: fortis – is = fort- 2. Add –ior, -ius = fortior, fortius braver, stronger OR one can translate comparative degree using more rather too
Declining comparative degree Comparative degree adjectives are all 3rd declension, regardless of the declension of their positive degree Singular Plural altiores altiores altiora altiorum altiorum altiorum altioribus altioribus altioribus altior altior altius altioris altioris altioris altiori altiori altiori altiorem altiorem altius altiore altiore altiore fortior fortior fortius fortioris fortioris fortioris fortiori fortiori fortiori fortiorem fortiorem fortius fortiore fortiore fortiore fortiores fortiores fortiora fortiorum fortiorum fortiorum fortioribus fortioribus fortioribus
Superlative degree This tree is the tallest. Haec arbor est altissima. Used when comparing one noun to a group. This tree is the tallest. Haec arbor est altissima. The man hired the strongest litterbearers. Vir conduxit fortissimos lecticarios.
Forming superlative degree from positive degree adjective 1st/2nd declension adjectives altus, alta, altum high, tall, deep 1. Find the base in the feminine form minus the feminine ending: alta – a = alt- 2. Add –issimus, -issima, -issimum=altissimus, altissima, altissimum highest, tallest, deepest 3rd declension adjectives fortis, forte brave, strong 1. Find the base in the feminine form minus the feminine ending: fortis – is = fort- Add –issimus, -issima, -issimum=fortissimus, fortissima, fortissimum bravest, strongest OR one can translate superlative degree using very
Declining superlative degree All superlative degree adjectives are 1st/2nd declension, regardless of the declension of their positive degree Singular Plural altissimi altissimae altissima altissimorum altissimarum altissimorum altissimis altissimis altissimis altissimos altissimas altissima altissimus altissima altissimum altissimi altissimae altissimi altissimo altissimae altissimo altissimum altissimam altissimum altissimo altissima altissimo fortissimus fortissima fortissimum fortissimi fortissimae fortissimi fortissimo fortissimae fortissimo fortissimum fortissimam fortissimum fortissimo fortissima fortissmo fortissimi fortissimae fortissima fortissimorum fortissimarum fortissimorum fortissimis fortissimis fortissimis fortissimos fortissimas fortissima fortissimis fortissmis fortissimis