Latin Comparison of Adjectives — Comparative and Superlative
Positive, comparative, superlative — comparison is surprisingly regular in Latin, but it has a few traps: the special forms in -errimus and -illimus, a handful of irregular words, and the ablative of comparison. This article lines them all up. It belongs to the Learn-Latin section and deepens the comparison from the guide to Latin adjectives.
- Forming and declining the comparative (-ior/-ius) and superlative (-issimus)
- Special forms: -errimus (pulcher) and -illimus (facilis)
- The irregular comparison (bonus, malus, magnus, parvus, multi)
- Comparison with quam and the ablative of comparison
- Adverbs, the elative and the common mistakes
How do you compare adjectives in Latin?
The comparative is formed with -ior (m./f.) or -ius (n.) on the stem, genitive -ioris (declined like the third declension). The superlative is formed with -issimus, -a, -um (declined like the a-/o-declension). Example: longus (long) → longior (longer) → longissimus (longest).
Marcus altior est quam Titus. = “Marcus is taller than Titus.” — the same without quam: Marcus altior est Tito. (ablative of comparison).
Forming the comparative and superlative
The comparative follows the third (consonant) declension: ablative singular in -e (not -i), genitive plural in -um, neuter plural in -a. The superlative runs regularly on the a-/o-declension. Two groups form the superlative differently:
| Type | Superlative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rule | -issimus, -a, -um | longus → longissimus (longest) |
| Adjectives in -er | -errimus (on the nom. masc.) | pulcher → pulcherrimus; acer → acerrimus |
| six adjectives in -lis | -illimus | facilis → facillimus; difficilis → difficillimus |
Memory hook: if the positive ends in -er, the superlative adds -errimus to the nominative; for facilis, difficilis, similis, dissimilis, gracilis, humilis it is -illimus. Everything else takes -issimus.
The irregular comparison
Some of the most common adjectives change their stem when compared (suppletive comparison). Learn these five by heart:
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| bonus | melior, melius | optimus | good – better – best |
| malus | peior, peius | pessimus | bad – worse – worst |
| magnus | maior, maius | maximus | big – bigger – biggest |
| parvus | minor, minus | minimus | small – smaller – smallest |
| multi (pl.) | plures, plura | plurimi | many – more – most |
The adverbs are compared in parallel: the comparative is the neuter singular of the adjective comparative in -ius, and the superlative ends in -issime (or -errime/-illime). Example: fortiter (bravely) → fortius → fortissime; irregular bene → melius → optime. A form overview is on Wikipedia.
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The comparison, the elative and the mistakes
A comparative often calls for a comparison. There are two ways: with quam (“than”) — the thing compared stays in the same case: Marcus altior est quam Titus. Or with the ablative of comparison — the thing compared stands in the plain ablative, without quam: Marcus altior est Tito. Both mean “Marcus is taller than Titus”.
If a compared word stands without a comparison, translate it absolutely:
- Absolute comparative: “rather” or “too” — senex tristior = a rather sad old man.
- Elative (absolute superlative): “very, exceedingly” — vir fortissimus = a very brave man.
- quam + superlative: “as … as possible” — quam celerrime = as fast as possible.
The most common mistakes:
- Declining the comparative wrongly: ablative singular in -e (altiore), not in -i.
- Forgetting the special form: pulcherrimus (not pulcherissimus), facillimus (not facilissimus).
- Not recognising the irregulars: maior is the comparative of magnus, not a separate word.
- Reading the elative as a true superlative: maximus without a comparison means “very big”, not “the biggest”.
The basics of adjective declension are in the guide to Latin adjectives; a concise reference is the Dickinson College Commentaries grammar.
FAQ — Latin comparison of adjectives
How do you form the comparative and superlative in Latin?
The comparative uses -ior (m./f.) or -ius (n.) on the stem, genitive -ioris, declined like the third declension. The superlative uses -issimus, -a, -um on the a-/o-declension. Example: longus – longior – longissimus. Adjectives in -er form the superlative in -errimus (pulcherrimus), six adjectives in -lis form it in -illimus (facillimus).
What is the ablative of comparison?
When comparing with a comparative, the thing compared can stand in the plain ablative instead of using quam — then without quam. Marcus altior est quam Titus and Marcus altior est Tito both mean Marcus is taller than Titus. The ablative of comparison often stands directly before the comparative.
What does a superlative without a comparison mean?
A superlative with no thing compared is an elative and means very or exceedingly: vir fortissimus = a very brave man, not the bravest. Likewise a comparative without a comparison means rather or too. When quam stands directly before a superlative, it means as … as possible (quam celerrime = as fast as possible).
Understand Latin instead of cramming — try it right now.
Latin adjectives — declension and comparison · Latin cases — nominative to ablative · Latin pronouns — se/suus and demonstratives · Participium coniunctum (PC) · Latin cum clauses — indicative or subjunctive · All grammar topics in the Learn-Latin section · Latinum preparation — the plan · Practice Latin verb forms
