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Superlatives. There are three ways to form the superlative. Most adjectives use the following superlative form: 1. find the base inimicus , inimica , inimicum inimic --- (drop the –a or -is to get the base) 2. add - issim - to the base of the adjective inimicissim ---
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There are three ways to form the superlative • Most adjectives use the following superlative form: • 1. find the base inimicus, inimica, inimicum inimic--- (drop the –a or -is to get the base) • 2. add -issim- to the base of the adjective inimicissim--- • 3. add 1-2nd declension endings to the –issim- inimicissimospueros • 4. when you add the endings they must agree with the noun in gender, number and case
another example She is a very irritating girl Estpuellamolestissima molestus, molesta, molestum drop the a molest--- add the issim--- Make the ending agree with puella molestissima
Do the endings always match? I was fighting with a very strong soldier. Cum fortissimo militepugnabam fortis, forte get the base by dropping the –is fort --- add -issim- fortissim- make the ending agree with milite fortisssimo
Important Points • What declension endings are used for ALL superlative forms? 1st and 2nd • What determines the case, number and gender of the ending for the adjective ? The noun it modifies. • Do superlative forms always match the noun they modify? • NO
TRANSLATIONS • There are three ways to translate a superlative • most… • very… • ----est
Try these • a very friendly dog (acc. singular) canis, canis; amicus, amica, amicum • a most irritating woman (dat. sing.) molestus, molesta, molestum; femina, feminae • the happiest days (acc. pl.) laetus, laeta, laetum; dies, diei (this noun is masc.)
ANSWERS • canemamicissimum • feminaemolestissimae • laetissimos dies
QUAM used with a superlative form • When you put quam next to the superlative adjective it indicates the highest degree possible. • Translate the adjective using the phrase as------as possible • When you do this you no longer use most, very or ---est
EXAMPLES • quam laetissima sum I am as happy as possible
The second way to form superlatives • Only adjectives that end in –er in the masculine, singular follow these steps. Words like acer, acris; miser, misera, miserum • Take the word that ends in –er acer • Do NOT drop anything acer • Add –rim- acerrim-- • Use 1st-2nddecl endings accerrimosmilites
Translations are the same • acerrimosmilites = very fierce soldiers • pulcherrimamurbem = the most beautiful city • miserrimusservus = very miserable slave
BE CAREFUL • Notice that for these adjectives you do NOT get the base of the adjective • You always use the word that ends in -er
Put the following into the superlative • The most miserable soldiers – nom. pl. • A very beautiful woman - acc. sing. • The swiftest horse - dat. sing.
ANSWERS • militesmiserrimos • feminampulcherrimam • equocelerrimo
Six words that have their own superlative • There are six words that form the superlative in their own way. • The six words are: • difficilis • facilis • dissimilis • similis • humilis • gracilis
These six words use the following: • Find the base • Add –lim- • Use 1st-2nddecl endings • A most difficult day – accusative singular • difficillimum diem • difficil - the base • difficillim – the base + lim— • difficillimum – the base + lim + ending which agrees with diem
Three Ways to form Superlative Most Adjectives • Find the base • Add issim— • Add 1st – 2nddecl endings Adjectives ending in –er • Use the word ending in –er • Add -rim— • Add 1st-2nddecl endings Six Special Words • Find base • Add –lim- • Add 1st – 2nddecl endings