VF: Lesson - Comparison - Using the Comparative Degree

Image: the Basilica Julia in Rome, Italy.

Using the Comparative Degree

The comparative degree is very important for providing more specific detail about a particular noun. It is most commonly used to express a difference between two nouns, with one noun being more than the other.

The image depicts the remains of the Basilica Iulia in the Roman Forum. The Basilica was the ancient Roman courthouse.

Comparison with Quam

When using the comparative degree, two nouns are placed in direct comparison with one of those nouns being more than the other. The comparative degree adjective tells us that the noun possesses more of the descriptor than another noun.

Latin uses the word quam in the place that English uses the word than. Let's look at an example sentence:

Comparative Adjectives - English vs. Latin

Language

Source Noun

Adjective

Connecting Word

Compared Noun

English
Marcus is taller than Lucius.

Marcus (subject)

taller

than

Lucius

Latin
Marcus est altior quam Lucius.

Marcus (nominative)

altior

quam

Lucius

The noun being compared (Lucius) is put into the same case as the source noun (Marcus) - here, both are nominative, because Marcus is the subject of the sentence. Even when the source noun is in a different case, the compared noun following quam should match that case:

  • Marcum altiorem quam Lucium vidimus.
    • We saw Marcus, who is taller than Lucius. *
      • *Note: to get the sentence to work well in English, we added a relative clause to handle the comparison. Keep this in mind when the comparative adjective is in a case other than Nominative. Latin is treating the entire phrase altiorem quam Lucium as an adjective phrase:
      • Literally: We saw [taller than Lucius] Marcus.
  • Miles Marco altiorem quam Lucio pecuniam dedit.
    • The soldier gave money to Marcus, who is taller than Lucius.
    • Literally: The soldier gave money to [taller than Lucius] Marcus.

Ablative of Comparison

When the source noun is either nominative or accusative, Latin is able to use an alternative construction to quam, which is called the Ablative of Comparison. Instead of using quam + compared noun, the word quam is removed and the compared noun is put into the ablative case with no preposition:

  • Marcus est altior Lucio.
    • Marcus is taller than Lucius.
    • Note: the translation remains the same.
      • Lucio = quam Lucius
  • Marcum altiorem Lucio vidimus.
    • We saw Marcus, who is taller than Lucius.
    • Note: the translation remains the same.
      • Lucio = quam Lucium

Incomplete Comparison

Latin can use the comparative without a second (compared) noun, in an incomplete comparison. When this occurs, the comparative adjective can be translated using words like rather, too or somewhat:

  • Marcus est altior. 
    • Marcus is taller.
    • Marcus is rather tall.
    • Marcus is too tall.
    • Marcus is somewhat tall.

Comparative and Superlative Examples handout

For additional examples of comparative adjectives in use, please download the Comparative and Superlative Examples Links to an external site. handout.