DEGREES OF THE DESCRIPTIVE ADJECTIVES

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The descriptive adjectives have three degrees or quality measures:

POSITIVE DEGREE

Example:
" Marco è intelligente. "
In this example the adjective intelligent expresses the biggest value of a quality in relation to a comparison.

COMPARATIVE DEGREE

Example:
" Marco è più intelligente di Paolo. "
In this example the adjective intelligent expresses a quality with a bigger intensity in relation to another noun.

In Italian there are 3 different comparative degrees:

• minority comparative  (when the term of comparison has a minor quality or quantity compared to the initial one)

  Example:
  "Marco è meno intelligente di Paolo."

• majority comparative  (when the term of comparison has a bigger quality or quantity compared to the initial one)

  Example:
  "Marco è più intelligente di Paolo."

• equality comparative  (when the term of comparison has an equal quality or quantity compared to the initial one)

  Example:
  "Marco è intelligente come Paolo."

SUPERLATIVE DEGREE

Example:
" Marco è intelligentissimo. "
In this example 'intelligentissimo' indicates the absolute higher level of the adjective.

In Italian there are 2 different superlative degrees:

• absolute superlative  (indicates the absolute higher level of the adjective)

  Example:
  "Marco è intelligentissimo."

• relative superlative  (indicate the higher level of the adjective in comparison to another term)

  Example:
  "Marco è il più intelligente dei miei amici."

Go to: comparative > positive > absolute_superlative > particular_forms > relative_superlative

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