Comparative & superlative adjectives
'Degree'
The form of the adjective you have learned so far is called the positive degree. All that means is
that it is not the comparative or superlative degree.
The comparative degree means 'more —' or '—er.'
The superlative degree means 'most —' or '—est.'
The positive degree just means regular old adjective.
We use comparatives (bigger, uglier, etc.) & superlatives (hottest, greasiest) in English too.
Declension of comparative & superlative
Remember: these build off of the stem of the adjective. The comparative is declined like a 3rd declension adjective, but not as i-stems. The superlative is simply a 1st/2nd declension adjective.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| cārus -a -um | cārior -ius | cārissimus -a -um |
| longus -a -um | longior -ius | longissimus -a -um |
| fortis -e | fortior -ius | fortissimus -a -um |
| potēns | potentior -ius | potentissimus -a -um |
Recognization
The mark of the comparative is -iōr.
The mark of the superlative is -issim-.
quam with comparatives & superlatives
quam after a comparative is used like Eng. 'than.'
dīcit hōs librōs esse clāriōrēs quam illōs.
quam before a superlative means 'as — as possible.'
amīcus meus erat vir quam iūcudissimus.
Ablative of comparison
Sometimes instead of using quam to mark the words compared, Latin uses the ablative of comparison. In this construction, the second item is in the ablative case. The translation still is 'more — than —.'
dīcit hōs librōs esse clāriōrēs illīs.
Irregulars
Of course there are irregulars. The first group forms their superlatives differently than regular adjectives.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| facilis -e | facilior -ius | facillimus -a -um |
| pulcher pulchra pulchrum | pulchrior -ius | pulcherrimus -a -um |
Then there is the group of all-out irregulars, like our 'good, better, best' etc. Just simply learn them; you'll see them a lot.
| Positive | Comparative | Superlative |
| bonus -a -um | melior -ius | optimus -a -um |
| magnus -a -um | maior -ius | maximus -a -um |
| malus -a -um | peior -ius | pessimus -a -um |
| multus -a -um | — plūs | plūrimus -a -um |
| parvus -a -um | minor -ius | minimus -a -um |
| (prae-, prō-) | prior -ius | prīmus -a -um |
| superus -a -um | superior -ius | summus -a -um suprēmus -a -um |