Crash Latin Grammar · Lesson Review
Lesson 2
Adjectives & Adverbs — the Genitive and Dative Cases
Source: Oliver's handouts, Lesson 2 Outline & Comparison of Adjectives
Morphology
The Three Degrees of Comparison
Comparative & superlative are built from the stem of the Positive (minus its final vowel).
| Pattern |
Positive |
Comparative |
Superlative |
| 3 terminations altus type |
altus, a, um high |
altior, altius higher |
altissimus, a, um highest / very high |
| 2 terminations fortis type |
fortis, forte brave |
fortior, fortius braver |
fortissimus, a, um bravest |
| 1 termination felix type |
felix happy |
felicior, felicius happier |
felicissimus, a, um happiest |
Comparative endings
-ior (m/f) · -ius (n)
Regular superlative
-issimus, a, um
Declension of comparative
3rd declension
Regular exceptions
- -er adjectives → superlative adds -rimus, a, um to the nom. masc. positive:
asper → asperrimus · pulcher → pulcherrimus · acer → acerrimus
- Six adjectives in -ilis → superlative adds -limus, a, um to the stem:
facilis → facillimus, difficilis → difficillimus, similis → simillimus, dissimilis → dissimillimus, humilis → humillimus
Wildly irregular — just memorize these
- bonus → melior → optimus (good)
- malus → peior → pessimus (bad)
- magnus → maior → maximus (great)
- parvus → minor → minimus (small)
- multus → plus → plurimus (much)
- (prope) → propior → proximus (near)
- plus: exterus/exterior/extremus, inferus/inferior/infimus, superus/superior/supremus, posterus/posterior/postremus, (prae/pro) prior/primus, (in/intra) interior/intimus, (ultra) ulterior/ultimus, (cis/citra) citerior/citimus
Morphology
The "unus nauta" Irregulars
All take -ius in the genitive singular and -i in the dative singular (all genders) — otherwise decline like 1st/2nd declension.
alius · alter · neuter · nullus · solus · totus · ullus · unus · uter · uterque
Syntax
Genitive & Dative, Function by Function
Each use with its diagnostic Latin example — recognize the pattern, not just the label.
Genitive Case
- Possessionthe plain "of" relationship
- Descriptionviri magnae virtutis — a man of great courage
- Partitive / genitive of the wholepars militum — part of the soldiers
- With cardinals + pauciuse abl. with de/ex instead: decem ex pueris
- With certain adjectivesmemor sui amici — mindful of his friend
- Objective genitiveamor patriae (love of country), timor belli (fear of war)
Dative Case
- Indirect objectpueris libros dedit — he gave books to the boys
- Special verbsfavor/help/please/trust/believe/persuade/command/obey/serve/resist/envy/threaten/pardon (+ opposites) — exceptions abound, check a dictionary
- Compound verbsad-, ante-, con-, in-, inter-, ob-, post-, prae-, pro-, sub-, super- compounds: Brutus classi praeerat
- Purposemagno usui nostris fuit — often paired w/ dative of person affected
- Reference + double dativereference + purpose together: legio auxilio Caesari fuit
- Possessor (with sum)est mihi liber — I have a book
- With adjectivesfitness/nearness/likeness/friendliness (+ opposites): nobis sunt amici
Syntax
Adjective Agreement
- Basic ruleagrees with its noun/pronoun in gender, number, case: nautae fortissimi
- Predicate adj. + mixed-gender nounsmasc. plural if living beings, neuter if things: ager silvaque erant magna
- Substantive useadjective standing in for a noun: omnia (all things), nostri (our men)
Self-Test
Exercise Prompts
Same phrases as the handout — quiz yourself before checking the key. Each line needs the case named.
Genitive singular
- the small body
- the braver king
- the heaviest shield
- the only citizen
Dative singular
- one horn
- the largest island
- a very beautiful woman
- the higher tower
Accusative singular
- a very wide river
- a very deep swamp
- a very bad son
- the seventh day
Ablative singular
- a very wretched girl
- the brave soldier
- a noble king
- the strongest farmer
Accusative plural
- very fierce foot soldiers · severe wounds · happier girls · light hands