Irregular comparatives and superlatives

Warning: before you study this page, make sure you have read the pages on comparatives and on superlatives

There is a major difference between the two languages. In Eng. you have cases like "good/well - better - best": the irregular forms are the comparativo di maggioranza and the superlativo relativo.

In It., instead, the comparativo di maggioranza and the superlativo relativo always use the same form: "Il Barolo è migliore del Barbera. Il Barolo è il migliore vino del Piemonte." ( Barolo is better than Barbera. Barolo is the best wine in Piedmont.) - "migliore" is the irregular comparative and "relativo" superlative of "buono" ( good).

The irregular forms in It. are the comparativo di maggioranza and the superlativo assoluto. For example, "buono - migliore - ottimo" ( good - better - very good).

Adverbs can be irregular, too: "bene - meglio - ottimamente" ( well - better - very well) but the regular forms "molto bene / benissimo" are also frequently used for "very well".

Another important case is the opposite of "buono / bene": "cattivo - peggiore - pessimo; male - peggio - pessimamente / malissimo / molto male" ( bad - worse - very bad; badly - worse - very badly).

A few adjectives form the superlativo assoluto with the ending "-errimo" instead of "-issimo": "acerrimo, asperrimo, integerrimo"... from "acre, aspro, integro"... ( acrid, sour, integral...)

For the complete lists, consult your textbook.