1. Chapter 34
Degrees of Adjectives
Biggest
Big
Bigger

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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