PERLATIVES.

240. 1. The Comparative often corresponds to the English Positive with
'_rather_,' '_somewhat_,' '_too_'; as,--

senectus est loquacior, _old age is rather talkative._

2. So the Superlative often corresponds to the Positive with '_very_';
as,--

vir fortissimus, _a very brave man._

3. Strengthening Words. Vel and quam are often used with the Superlative as
strengthening particles, vel with the force of '_very_,' and quam with the
force of '_as possible_'; as,--

vel maximus, _the very greatest_;

quam maximae copiae, _as great forces as possible_.

4. Phrases of the type '_more rich than brave_' regularly take the
Comparative in both members; as,--

exercitus erat ditior quam fortior, _the army was more rich than
brave._

OTHER PECULIARITIES.

241. 1. Certain Adjectives may be used to denote _a part of an object_,
chiefly primus, extremus, summus, medius, infimus, imus; as,--

summus mons, _the top of the mountain_;

extrema hieme, _in the last part of the winter_.

2. Prior, primus, ultimus, and postremus are frequently equivalent to a
relative clause; as,--

primus eam vidi, _I was the first who saw her_;

ultimus decessit, _he was the last who withdrew_.

3. When multus and another adjective both limit the same noun et is
generally used; as,--

multae et magnae cogitationes, _many (and) great thoughts_.

* * * * *

CHAPTER IV.--_Syntax of Pronouns._

PERSONAL PRONOUNS.

242. 1. The Personal Pronouns as subjects of verbs are, as a rule, not
expressed except for the purpose of _emphasis_, _contrast_, or _clearness_.
Thus ordinarily:--

video, _I see_; amat, _he loves_.

But ego te video, et tu me vides, _I see you, and you see me_.

2. The Genitives mei, tui, nostri, vestri are used only as Objective
Genitives; nostrum and vestrum as Genitives of the Whole. Thus:--

memor tui, _mindful of you_;

desiderium vestri, _longing for you_;

nemo vestrum, _no one of you_.

a. But nostrum and vestrum are regularly used in the place of the
Possessive in the phrases omnium nostrum, omnium vestrum.

3. The First Plural is often used for the First Singular of Pronouns and
Verbs. Compare the Eng. editorial 'we.'

4. When two Verbs govern the same object, the Latin does not use a pronoun
with the second, as is the rule in English. Thus:--

virtus amicitias conciliat et conservat,