12.11.24: level 2; degrees of comparison [6]; object of comparison (1)

[1] A comparative can stand alone:

The second nose is longer.

[2] A comparative can also compare X to Y:

The second nose is longer ¦ than the first nose.

‘than’ introduces the object of comparison i.e. the person / thing which is being compared.

[3] Latin can form the object of comparison in two ways:

[i] comparative + quam (than) + the person / thing being compared; similar to English:

Nāsus secundus est longior quam nāsus prīmus.

[ii] The object of comparison is in the ablative case without quam

Nāsus secundus est longior nāsō prīmō.

[i] and [ii] have the same meaning

The man is stronger than the boy.

This can be expressed in both ways as shown above:

[i] Vir [nominative] fortior est ¦ quam puer [nominative].

[ii] Vir [nominative] fortior est ¦ puerō [ablative].

Similarly:

Haec via longior ¦ quam illa est. │ Haec via longior ¦ illā [ablative] est. │ This road is longer than that one.

Maior nātū sum ¦ quam frāter. │ Maior nātū sum ¦  frātre. [ablative] │ I’m older than my brother.

Minor nātū sum ¦ quam soror. │ Minor nātū sum ¦ sorōre. │ I’m younger than my sister.

[4] When quam is used the nouns being compared are in the same case:

[i] The walls ¦ of the city are higher ¦ than the estate’s [= (those) of the estate]

Moenia urbis [genitive] altiora sunt quam villae [genitive].

[ii] I  have never seen ¦ a more sensible girl ¦ than Flavia.

Numquam puellam prūdentiōrem [accusative] vīdī quam Flāviam [accusative].

[iii] I  have seen ¦ many braver men ¦ than Achilles.

Multōs virōs vīdī fortiōrēs [accusative] quam Achillem [accusative]. 

[iv] The journey is longer by road ¦ than by sea.

Iter longius viā [ablative] ¦ quam marī [ablative] est. 

Latin tutorials:

[i] comparisons with quam

[ii] ablative of comparison