German comparative adjectives are used to compare two people, things, or ideas, indicating that one has more of a particular quality than the other. German uses a specific suffix and sometimes a different word order to express these comparisons.
Forming Comparative Adjectives
German comparative adjectives are formed by adding -er to the base adjective. If the adjective stem ends in -el or -er, the vowel is often dropped or changed. An umlaut (ä, ö, ü) is added if possible.
Examples:
Positive Adjective | Comparative Form | Example Sentence (German) | Example Sentence (English) |
---|---|---|---|
groß | größer | Mein Haus ist größer als dein Haus. | My house is bigger than your house. |
klein | kleiner | Mein Hund ist kleiner als dein Hund. | My dog is smaller than your dog. |
schnell | schneller | Er läuft schneller als ich. | He runs faster than I do. |
alt | älter | Meine Schwester ist älter als ich. | My sister is older than I am. |
teuer | teurer | Das Auto ist teurer als das Fahrrad. | The car is more expensive than the bicycle. |
Using “als” for “than”
When making comparisons in German, use the word als to mean than. The structure is usually:
[Subject] + [verb] + [comparative adjective] + als + [object].
Examples:
German Sentence | English Translation |
---|---|
Mein Bruder ist größer als ich. | My brother is taller than I am. |
Dieses Buch ist interessanter als das andere. | This book is more interesting than the other. |
Sie singt besser als ihr Freund. | She sings better than her boyfriend. |
Irregular Comparative Forms
Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms and/or an umlaut added.
Examples:
Positive | Comparative | German Example | English Example |
---|---|---|---|
gut | besser | Er spielt besser als ich. | He plays better than I do. |
viel | mehr | Ich habe mehr Zeit als du. | I have more time than you. |
gern | lieber | Ich esse lieber Kuchen als Kekse. | I prefer cake to cookies. |
He plays better than I do. (German sentence: Er spielt ___ als ich.)
besser
'besser' is the irregular comparative form of 'gut' (good).
I prefer cake to cookies. (German sentence: Ich esse ___ Kuchen als Kekse.)
lieber
'lieber' is the irregular comparative form of 'gern' (gladly).
Summary of Key Points
- Add -er to form the comparative (e.g., schnell → schneller).
- Add an umlaut if possible (e.g., alt → älter).
- Use als to mean than in comparisons.
- Some adjectives are irregular (gut → besser, viel → mehr).
Comparative adjectives are a key part of expressing differences in German, so practicing these rules will help you make accurate and nuanced comparisons.
Flashcards (1 of 11)
- Positive Adjective: groß
- Comparative Form: größer
- Example Sentence (English): My house is bigger than your house.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025