Comparative (Bigger): -ior

Bigger: -ior

Level 4

Add -ior to the stem for masculine and feminine, and -ius for neuter.

How It Works

Casem. and f. singularneuter singularm. and f. pluralneuter plural
nominativealtioraltiusaltioresaltiora
genitivealtiorisaltiorisaltiorumaltiorum
dativealtiorialtiorialtioribusaltioribus
accusativealtioremaltiusaltioresaltiora
ablativealtiorealtiorealtioribusaltioribus

The stem comes from the genitive: altus gives alt-, fortis gives fort-, pulcher gives pulchr-. So the forms are altior, fortior and pulchrior.

The comparative agrees with its noun in gender, number and case. Use quam to say than.

Latin usually adds the ending to the stem where English says taller or more beautiful.

Examples (5)

  1. Haec turris altior est.

    This tower is taller.

    Altior is feminine, like turris.

  2. Hoc flumen latius est.

    This river is wider.

    Flumen is neuter, so the comparative is latius.

  3. Hae villae pulchriores sunt.

    These houses are more beautiful.

    Pulchriores is feminine plural, like villae.

  4. Hic liber gravior est.

    This book is heavier.

    Gravior is masculine singular, like liber.

  5. Fides fortior est quam timor.

    Faith is stronger than fear.

    Fortior is feminine, like fides.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the masculine form with a neuter noun.

    Hoc flumen latior est.
    Hoc flumen latius est.

    Flumen is neuter, so the comparative ends in -ius, not -ior.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Comparative (Bigger): -iorLevel 4Bigger: -ior

Learn This First

The comparative declines in the third family, so the third-family adjectives come first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

-ior