Comparative Adjectives
Spoken Description
Lerne den Komparativ: Formen und Endungen bei Kurze- und Lange-Adjektiven, irrtümliche Fehler vermeiden und praktische Tipps mit Beispielen zum Vergleich. Ideal für Bahnfahrer, Schüler und Lernende.
Learn the comparative: forms, endings for short and long adjectives, common mistakes to avoid, and practical tips with examples to compare objects. Perfect for beginners and everyday use.
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Comparative adjectives in German show differences in quality, size, or degree between two things. This guide covers the basic formation, common adjectives, and useful phrases for making comparisons clear.
Formation
German comparative adjectives are formed by adding -er to the adjective stem, and the sentence usually compares two things with als or wie. The adjective stays in its normal ending position when used attributively.
Common Adjectives
Adjectives describing size, age, speed, and quality are often used in comparisons. Learn a handful of useful adjectives so you can describe typical differences.
Adjectives
Here are some common comparative adjectives that appear in everyday speech:
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| groß | big | |
| klein | small | |
| alt | old | |
| jung | young | |
| schnell | fast | |
| langsam | slow | |
| gut | good | |
| schlecht | bad | |
| stark | strong | |
| schwach | weak |
Der Elefant ist groß, die Maus ist.
Der Elefant ist groß, die Maus ist kleiner.
The elephant is big but the mouse is ___. (small)
Usage
Comparatives highlight relative differences and are often followed by als (than) when comparing two specific things. Use wie (like/as) for equal comparisons and so...wie for emphasis.
Summary
To make comparisons in German, add -er to the adjective for the comparative form, use als to contrast two things, and choose common adjectives that fit the context. Practice with typical adjectives so comparisons become natural.
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