The Irregular Comparison of Adjectives Positive Comparative Superlative

The Irregular Comparison of Adjectives Positive Comparative Superlative bonus -a, -um good malus -a, -um bad magnus -a, -um great parvus -a, -um small multus -a, -um much multi -ae, -a many melior melius better pejor pejus worse major majus greater minor minus smaller ---, plus more plures plura more optimus -a, -um best pessimus -a, -um worst maximus -a, -um greatest minimus -a, -um smallest plurimus -a, -um most plurimi -ae, -a most

Review of Comparison with the Comparative Degree (Page 236) 1. Comparison with quam (conjunction = than) In English we use the adverb than in comparisons; and the two persons, places, or things being compared are in the same case. The same rule is true in Latin with the adverb quam (than). Honor mihi major est quam vita. Honor is greater to me than life. 2. Ablative of Comparison In Latin quam is sometimes omitted. The word being compared, which follows than in English, is placed in the ablative case in Latin. This use is called the Ablative of Comparison. This ablative may be used only when the persons, places, or things being compared would be in the nominative or accusative case if quam were used. Honor mihi major est vita. Honor is greater to me than life.

Uses of quam 1. Interrogative adjective quam (acc. fem. sing. of qui quae quod –which, what) Quam feminam vir amat? Which woman does the man love? 2. Relative Pronoun quam (acc. fem. sing. of qui quae quod –who, which) Vir feminam quam amat spectabat. The man was watching the woman whom he loves. 3. Adverb quam + a positive degree adjective or adverb (quam = how) Quam altum est mare? How deep is the sea? 4. Comparative degree adjective or adverb with the conjunction quam. Honor est mihi carior quam vita. Honor is dearer to me than life. (quam = than) 5. The adverb quam with superlative degree adjective or adverb. (quam = as…as possible) Vir quam celerrime cucurrit. The man ran as quickly as possible.