clārior, clārissimus: comparing adjectives
-ior and -issimus, the -er and -lis exceptions, and quam or the ablative for "than".
LatinIntermediate Latin · ComparisonAbout 4 min: 1 reading, 3 practiceUpdated
- Form the comparative (-ior, -ius) and superlative (-issimus)
- Use -errimus and -illimus where needed
- Say "than" with quam or the ablative
Latin Level 2: verbs and the other declensions: lesson 31 of 35
- Intermediate Latin · Verbs: the present system
- sum: I am, I was, I shall be 3 min
- The present of amō and moneō 4 min
- The imperfect: was doing 4 min
- The future: will do 3 min
- The dative with adjectives 3 min
- The present of regō and audiō 4 min
- The imperfect of regō and audiō, and verbs that take the dative 3 min
- The future of regō and audiō 3 min
- capiō, and giving orders 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The passive voice
- The passive: being done to 3 min
- The passive of regō, audiō and capiō; passive infinitives 3 min
- Synopses, and the ablative of "from" 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The perfect tenses
- fuī, fueram, fuerō: the perfect tenses of sum 3 min
- The perfect active: did, have done 5 min
- Had done, will have done: pluperfect and future perfect active 3 min
- amātus sum: the perfect passive 4 min
- Principal parts, prepositions, and yes-or-no questions 5 min
- possum, "I can", and the infinitive 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
- quī, quae, quod: who, which, that 4 min
- Intermediate Latin · The third declension
- rēx, rēgis: the third declension 4 min
- hostis, urbs, mare: i-stems 4 min
- vīs and iter; gender in the third declension 4 min
- omnis, ācer, pār: third-declension adjectives 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · The fourth and fifth declensions
- manus, cornū: the fourth declension 3 min
- Rōmae, domī, Athēnīs: place and the locative 4 min
- diēs, rēs: the fifth declension and the ablative of time 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Pronouns
- ego, tū, sē: personal and reflexive pronouns 4 min
- ipse, "himself", and īdem, "the same" 3 min
- hic, iste, ille: this and that 4 min
- aliquis, quīdam, quisque: someone, a certain, each 3 min
- Intermediate Latin · Comparison
- clārior, clārissimus: comparing adjectives 4 min
- melior, optimus: irregular comparison, plūs, and "by how much" 3 min
- clārē, fortiter: adverbs and their comparison 4 min
- Intermediate Latin · Numerals
- ūnus, duo, trēs: numerals, "of" the whole, and "for how long" 5 min
- Intermediate Latin · Deponent verbs
- hortor, sequor: deponent verbs 3 min
Try first
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Pairs with D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Ginn, 1909), Lessons LIII–LIV, §§ 300–309
What it is
Add endings to the base of the adjective (the genitive minus its ending):
| Positive | Comparative, superlative |
|---|---|
| clārus, bright | clārior, clārissimus |
| brevis, short | brevior, brevissimus |
| fortis, brave | fortior, fortissimus |
The comparative is -ior (masculine and feminine) and -ius (neuter), declined like a third-declension consonant stem: clāriōris, clāriōrī, clāriōrem, clāriōre. The superlative is -issimus, -a, -um, like bonus.
Two groups change the superlative:
- Adjectives in -er add -rimus to the nominative: ācer → ācerrimus, pulcher → pulcherrimus, līber → līberrimus.
- Six adjectives in -lis add -limus to the base: facilis → facillimus; also difficilis, similis, dissimilis, gracilis, humilis.
"Than" is quam, with both things in the same case; or, without quam, the second thing goes in the ablative:
- Nihil est clārius quam sōl. → Nothing is brighter than the sun.
- Nihil est clārius sōle. → Nothing is brighter than the sun.
The comparative can also mean "rather" or "too" (altior, rather high), and the superlative "very" (altissimus, very high).
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
Superlative of pulcher
- Adjectives in -er add -rimus to the nominative
Show answer
pulcherrimus. pulcher + -rimus.
Why it matters
"Bigger", "bravest", "very difficult", "than the sun": comparison is how Latin praises a general, describes a battle or ranks the tribes of Gaul (hōrum omnium fortissimī sunt Belgae, of all these the bravest are the Belgae).
Worked example
- Hic mīles est fortior quam ille. → This soldier is braver than that one.
- Hic mīles est fortior illō. → The same, with the ablative instead of quam.
- Iter erat difficillimum. → The journey was very difficult.
Common mistake
Using the ablative and quam together: wrong: fortior quam illō. Either quam ille (same case as the subject) or illō with no quam.
Key terms
- comparative
- -ior, -ius: braver, rather brave, too brave
- superlative
- -issimus: bravest, very brave
- quam
- than
- sōl, sōlis, m.
- sun
- clārus, -a, -um
- bright; famous
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 5 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| comparative | -ior, -ius: braver, rather brave, too brave |
| superlative | -issimus: bravest, very brave |
| quam | than |
| sōl, sōlis, m. | sun |
| clārus, -a, -um | bright; famous |
Practice
Recognition drill
Pick the right answer, as fast as you can.
All pairs
Tap a card to turn it over. 6 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| fortis | fortissimus |
| clārus | clārissimus |
| ācer | ācerrimus |
| facilis | facillimus |
| pulcher | pulcherrimus |
| brevis | brevissimus |
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
Neuter comparative of brevis
- That is masculine and feminine
Show answer
brevius. Neuter comparative: -ius.
"braver than Marcus", without quam
- Without quam, the thing compared goes in the ablative
Show answer
fortior Mārcō. Ablative of comparison: Mārcō.
altissimus can mean …
- That is the comparative, altior
Show answer
very high. The superlative often means "very".
Practise speaking
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You are a patient Latin tutor. Use the classical pronunciation only, never the Church one: c is always k, g is always hard, v sounds like w, ae like the ai in aisle, and long vowels are held longer. Speak slowly. Use only these Latin words: hic, erat, nihil, clārior, clārius, sōle, difficillimus, fortis, fortior, fortissimus, clārus, facilis, difficilis, pulcher, brevis, quam, mīles, puella, iter, sōl, Mārcus, est. Say English sentences like 'this soldier is braver than Marcus', 'the journey was very difficult' or 'nothing is brighter than the sun', and I will say them in Latin, once with quam and once with the ablative where I can. Do 8 sentences. After each answer, tell me what kind of mistake I made, if any, and let me try again, then tell me one thing to improve. Keep every reply under 2 sentences. If I need a name or a town, I will make one up. Speak English except for the Latin itself.
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Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. This course teaches the classical pronunciation (see lesson 1); AI voices may mix it with the Church (Italian-style) one, so ask for classical and check against lesson 1. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
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In short
- Comparative: base + -ior (m./f.), -ius (n.); superlative: base + -issimus.
- -er adjectives: -rimus (pulcherrimus); six -lis adjectives: -limus (facillimus).
- Than: quam + same case, or the ablative without quam.
- Comparative = rather/too; superlative = very.
Mastery check
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Check yourself
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Give the comparative of clārus (masculine).
Show answer
clārior.
Translate Puella est pulchrior quam soror (soror = sister).
Show answer
The girl is more beautiful than her sister.
Give the superlative of difficilis.
Show answer
difficillimus.
Further reading
- D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners, Lessons LIII–LIV, §§ 300–309. Public domain; Project Gutenberg.
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