Latin II/Comparisons
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Salvēte omnēs! Welcome back to Latin for Wikiversity. Today we'll learn how to compare things in Latin using comparative adjectives - words like "bigger," "better," and "faster."
New Grammar
[edit | edit source]In Latin, we make most comparatives by adding -ior (masculine/feminine) or -ius (neuter) to the stem of the adjective:
| Basic | Comparative (m/f) | Comparative (n) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| longus | longior | longius | longer |
| altus | altior | altius | higher/taller |
| fortis | fortior | fortius | braver |
Some very common adjectives have special comparative forms:
| Basic | Comparative | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| bonus | melior | better |
| malus | pējor | worse |
| magnus | major | bigger |
| parvus | minor | smaller |
To say "than" after a comparative, use "quam":
- Mārcus altior quam Lūcia est = Marcus is taller than Lucia
New Words
[edit | edit source]| Latin | English | Audio (Classical) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| longus, -a, -um | long | ||
| altus, -a, -um | tall, high | ||
| fortis, -e | brave | ||
| quam | than | Used with comparatives |
New Sentences
[edit | edit source]| Latin | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mārcus est altior. | Marcus is taller. | Simple comparative |
| Via est longior. | The road is longer. | Simple comparative |
| Puer fortior quam puella est. | The boy is braver than the girl. | With quam |
| Liber melior quam epistula est. | The book is better than the letter. | Irregular comparative |
| Canis major quam fēlēs est. | The dog is bigger than the cat. | Irregular comparative |
| Templum altius quam casa est. | The temple is higher than the cottage. | Neuter subject |
| Māter fortior quam pater est. | Mother is braver than father. | Family terms |
| Rōma major quam Athēnae est. | Rome is bigger than Athens. | Cities |
| Verbum brevius quam nōmen est. | The word is shorter than the name. | Neuter comparison |
| Vīnum melius quam aqua est. | Wine is better than water. | Irregular comparative |
Practice
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Next time, we'll learn about superlatives - how to say something is "the best" or "the tallest." Until then, valēte!