VF: Lesson - Comparison - Comparative Adjectives

Comparative Adjectives

In the image, senators listen to Cicero's speech against Cataline. Cicero was an orator and lawyer. Cicero needed to be more informed than the other senators to make a proper argument. Painting by Cesare Maccari - Cicerone Denuncia Catalina - 1888.

In Latin as well as English, the comparative degree of an adjective is used to compare two nouns, indicating that one noun is more _______ than the other. In the example above, Cicero is more informed than the senators.

Comparative adjectives are translated by using -er or more ______: taller, prettier, more serious, etc.

Forming the comparative degree

To form the comparative degree, add -ior, -ius to the positive adjective base.

• The first ending, -ior, is the nominative, singular, masculine/feminine form of the comparative adjective.
• The second ending, -ius, is the nominative, singular, neuter form of the comparative adjective.
• Finally, in parenthesis, include the genitive form, which will add -ioris to the base.

Comparative Adjectives - Formation

Positive Adjective	Adjective Base	Dictionary Entry - Comparative add -ior, -ius (gen -ioris) to base	Comparative Translation
altus, alta, altum	alta - a = alt-	altior, altius (gen. altioris)	taller, deeper
pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum	pulchra - a = pulchr-	pulchrior, pulchrius (gen. pulchrioris)	prettier, more beautiful
liber, libera, liberum	libera - a = liber-	liberior, liberius (gen. liberioris)	freer, more free
gravis, grave	gravis - is = grav-	gravior, gravius (gen. gravioris)	more serious, heavier
audax (gen. audacis)	audacis - is = audac-	audacior, audacius (gen. audacioris)	bolder

Comparative Adjective Base

The comparative form has a unique dictionary entry. Because neither the masculine/feminine form (-ior) nor the neuter form (-ius) can provide the base, we include the genitive form. With this genitive form, you can determine the comparative adjective base:

• altior, altius (gen. altioris)
  • altioris - is
  • Comparative Base: altior- 

Comparative Adjective Forms

Comparative adjectives use 3rd declension regular endings added to the comparative base. The comparative degree will always use 3rd declension endings, even when the positive adjective belongs to the 1st/2nd declension. In the example below, altior is the nominative singular form for masculine and feminine, while altius is the nominative singular form for neuter. All masculine and feminine forms are identical and so are written together.

• Positive Adjective: altus, alta, altum
  • Comparative Adjective: altior, altius (gen. altioris)
  • Comparative Base: altior-

Declension of altior, altius

	Masculine/Feminine		Neuter
Case	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
Nominative	altior	altiores	altius	altiora
Genitive	altioris	altiorum	altioris	altiorum
Dative	altiori	altioribus	altiori	altioribus
Accusative	altiorem	altiores	altius	altiora
Ablative	altiore	altioribus	altiore	altioribus
Vocative	altior	altiores	altius	altiora

Practice Activity