By How Much: multo maior
Put the measure in the ablative next to a comparative or a word like post.
How It Works
| Latin | Meaning |
|---|---|
| multo maior | much bigger |
| paulo post | a little later |
| tribus annis post | three years later |
| decem pedibus altior | ten feet taller |
| eo magis | all the more |
Common ablatives of difference are multo (by much), paulo (by a little), tanto and quanto (by so much, by how much).
Quo ... eo is the same ablative in a pair. The comparative that follows names the thing being measured.
Do not mix it up with the ablative that names what is compared. In Marcus tribus pedibus altior est Lucio, the ablative Lucio says who is compared, and tribus pedibus says by how much.
Examples (5)
- Marcus multo maior est quam Lucius.
Marcus is much bigger than Lucius.
Multo is the ablative of degree. It goes with the comparative maior.
- Paulo post Iulia domum rediit.
A little later Iulia went home.
Paulo post is a little after.
- Tribus annis post Caesar Romam rediit.
Three years later Caesar returned to Rome.
Tribus annis is the ablative plural of the measure of time, with post.
- Haec turris decem pedibus altior est quam illa.
This tower is ten feet taller than that one.
Decem pedibus tells by how much the tower is taller.
- Esse cum Christo, multo magis melius.
To be with Christ is far better.
Philippians 1:23. Multo is the ablative of degree. The Vulgate repeats the comparative in magis melius.
Common Mistakes
Using multo with a plain adjective.
Marcus multo altus est.Marcus multo altior est.Multo measures a difference, so it needs a comparative such as altior. A plain adjective has nothing to measure.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The ablative says by how much.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice By How Much: multo maior in Bubblegum
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