The comparative degree of an adjective is used to compare two things. For “pretty,” the comparative form is prettier. This indicates that one thing possesses a greater degree of prettiness than another. Let’s delve deeper into comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs in English and their connection to Latin roots.
Understanding Comparative Adjectives
In English, we form comparatives in two main ways:
- Adding “-er”: For short adjectives like “pretty,” we simply add “-er” to the end. For example, a flower can be prettier than another.
- Using “more”: For longer adjectives like “beautiful,” we use “more” before the adjective. For example, a sunset can be more beautiful than a sunrise.
Latin, the root of many English words, uses different endings for comparatives. For example, the comparative of pulcher (beautiful) is pulchrior for masculine and feminine and pulchrius for neuter. These decline like third declension nouns, except for the nominative singular.
Superlative Adjectives: Taking it a Step Further
Superlative adjectives describe the highest degree of quality. In English, we form superlatives by:
- Adding “-est”: Similar to comparatives, short adjectives like “pretty” take “-est.” The prettiest flower in the garden stood out.
- Using “most”: Longer adjectives use “most.” She wore the most beautiful dress at the ball.
Latin superlatives use endings like -imus, -ima, and -imum. Pulcher (beautiful) becomes pulcherrimus (most beautiful). These decline like the adjective bonus, -a, -um.
It’s important to note that Latin comparatives and superlatives have more nuanced meanings than their English counterparts, often conveying “rather,” “too,” or “quite” in addition to “more” or “most.”
Irregular Adjectives: Breaking the Rules
Some adjectives don’t follow the regular rules. “Good” becomes “better” and “best,” “bad” becomes “worse” and “worst.” Latin also has irregular adjectives with unique comparative and superlative forms, such as bonus (good) becoming melior (better) and optimus (best).
Comparative and Superlative Adverbs
Adverbs describe how actions are performed. Comparatives are often formed with “more” (e.g., more beautifully). Latin uses the neuter accusative singular of the comparative adjective, often ending in -ius. Superlatives commonly use “most” (e.g., most beautifully). Latin often replaces the -us in the superlative adjective with -e (e.g., pulcherrime).
The Role of “Quam” in Comparisons
In Latin, quam signifies “than” when used with comparatives and “as…as possible” with superlatives. For instance, quam maximus translates to “as great as possible.”
Irregular Adverbs: More Exceptions
Just as with adjectives, some adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms. For example, multum (much) becomes plus (more) and plurimum (most).
Conclusion
Understanding the comparative degree, specifically for an adjective like “pretty,” involves recognizing its form (“prettier”) and its function in comparing two things. This concept extends to superlatives and applies to both adjectives and adverbs. Exploring the Latin origins of these grammatical structures provides a deeper understanding of their usage and nuances in English. Remember, “prettier” highlights a greater degree of prettiness compared to just “pretty.”
