3. A compound adjective is formed from two simple words, with III. GRAMMATICAL FORM OF THE ADJECTIVE. 80. Adjectives have but one grammatical form, namely, comparison. In many languages adjectives are inflected to mark gender, number, and case, and in these respects they are made to agree with their nouns. A Latin adjective, like bonus (good), followed through all its inflections, assumes twelve different forms. In the earliest English there were several such inflections. Thus the adjective good, preceded by the definite article, was, when used with a masculine noun in the nominative case, goda, with a feminine noun gode, and with a neuter noun gode; the nominative plural was godan. But these variations had all disappeared from our speech several centuries ago.* 81. Comparison is a modification of adjectives (and adverbs) to express degrees of quantity or quality. 82. There are three degrees of comparison-the positive, the comparative, and the superlative. 83. The positive degree of an adjective is the adjective without modification, used to denote simple quantity or quality: as, long, righteous. 84. The comparative degree of an adjective is that modification of it by means of which we show that one thing, or "The irreconcilability of the Norman and Saxon modes of inflecting adjectives compelled the English to discard them both; but the Saxon endings of number were not given up till the fifteenth century."-Marsh: Lectures on the English Language. set of things, possesses a certain quality or attribute in a greater degree than another thing, or set of things: thus—. 1. My knife is sharper than yours. One thing compared with another. 2. This soldier is taller than those. One thing compared with a number of things. 3. Your parents are richer than mine. A set of things compared with a set of things. 4. These books are larger than that one. A set of things compared with one thing. 85. The superlative degree of an adjective is that modification of it by means of which we show that a certain thing, or set of things, possesses some quality or attribute in a greater degree than any other of the class to which it belongs: as, "the tallest soldier;" "the minutest grain.” 86. Formation.-I. Adjectives of one syllable generally form their comparative by suffixing er, and their superlative by suffixing est, to the positive:* thus II. Adjectives of more than one syllable generally form their comparative by joining the adverb more, and their superlative by joining the adverb most, with the positive: thus POSITIVE. faithful COMPARATIVE. more faithful more dangerous SUPERLATIVE. most faithful I. This is the general rule; but from it there are frequent departures. Thus many two-syllabled adjectives ending in y, le, * In adding these suffixes the usual rules for spelling derivative words are to be observed. ow, and er form their comparative and superlative by suffixing er and est: as But it would sound harsh to say prudenter, earnestest. In this matter euphony is the guide. II. On the other hand, even short adjectives may be compared by means of more and most, if the ear is satisfied: thus, "Alfred is the most apt of all the pupils." "Give us more ample ground." 87. Irregular comparison is a mode of marking the degrees of comparison different from the regular mode. The following are irregular comparisons: NOTES ON IRREGULAR ADJECTIVES. Good: Better and best [bet-est] are the comparative and the superlative of the obsolete Anglo-Saxon bet, a synonym of good. Bad: Worse and worst are the comparative and superlative of the obsolete Anglo-Saxon weor, a synonym of bad. Obs.-A regular comparative, badder, is found in early English. Old: The regular comparative and superlative are used when old is contrasted with new; the irregular forms when it is contrasted with young; as, "The older house belongs to the elder brother." But older and oldest are often applied to animate beings; elder and eldest never to inanimate. Obs.-Elder does not now denote greater age so much as the relation of precedence; it cannot be followed by than. Late: The regular forms later and latest are opposed to earlier and earliest; the irregular forms latter and last are opposed to former and first. Last is a compression of late-est. Farther, further: Farther, from far, means more distant, and is opposed to nearer; as, "I prefer the farther house." Further, from forth, means more advanced or additional; as, “I shall mention a further reason.” Inner, inmost, have no positive: down, downmost, and top, topmost, have no comparative; nether, nethermost, are the comparative and superlative of neath. Obs.-The suffix most, in these superlatives, is not the adverb most. It is really a double superlative ending, compounded of the two AngloSaxon endings ma and ost, each of which is equivalent to est. Hence foremost fore+ma+ost. 88. Incomparables.-Adjectives that are of absolute or superlative signification cannot, if taken in their strict sense, be compared: as Dead, perpendicular, empty, round-(adjectives having no shades of meaning). Perfect, infinite, supreme, universal (adjectives expressing the highest possible degree). I. Many of these adjectives are compared in colloquial use, and even by good writers, and such comparison may be deemed allowable on the theory that these adjectives are not used in their strict sense. However, we can generally avoid such comparisons. In place of saying "more perfect," "more perpendicular," etc., we may say more nearly perfect," "more nearly perpendicular," etc. 66 II. Some adjectives, as anterior, superior, inferior, senior, junior, prior, posterior, etc., suggest the idea of comparison (and they are real Latin comparatives), but they do not admit its forms; and when a comparison is implied these adjectives are followed by to, and not by than, as comparatives usually are: as, "This event was anterior to the Revolution." "Your ability is superior to mine." |