Comparative Adjectives
Comparative adjectives describe how one thing differs from another in quality, amount, or degree. This guide focuses on forming comparatives in German and highlights common exceptions and useful vocabulary.
Formation
German comparatives are typically formed by adding -er to the adjective. When the adjective appears before a noun, it remains uninflected in examples; inflection depends on the article and case in real sentences.
Umlauts
Some adjectives take an umlaut in the comparative form when they have an a, o, or u in the stem. This vowel change affects meaning and pronunciation, so it is important to learn which adjectives umlaut in the comparative.
| Positive Adjective | Comparative Adjective | Note |
|---|---|---|
| lang | länger | Umlaut added |
| groß | größer | Umlaut added |
| jung | jünger | Umlaut added |
| schnell | schneller | No umlaut |
| teuer | teurer | No umlaut |
Usage
Comparatives are used with als to compare two things, and with neben, für, or other prepositions when making more complex comparisons. In spoken German, shorter forms and set phrases often appear.
Examples
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☀️ Heute ist das Wetter schöner als gestern. | Today the weather is nicer than yesterday. |
| 🌳 Der Park nebenan ist grüner als der in der Stadt. | The park nearby is greener than the one in the city. |
| 🏞️ Der Hügel dort ist höher als der, auf dem wir standen. | The hill over there is higher than the one we stood on. |
| 🌊 Das Wasser im See ist klarer als im Fluss. | The water in the lake is clearer than in the river. |
| 🌅 Der Sonnenuntergang heute ist farbenfroher als sonst. | The sunset today is more colorful than usual. |
More Vocabulary
Key adjectives that frequently appear in comparisons include those for size, speed, age, price, and quality. Learning these common words helps you describe differences clearly.
| German Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| schnell | fast |
| langsam | slow |
| groß | big |
| klein | small |
| teuer | expensive |
| billig | cheap |
| alt | old |
| jung | young |
| gut | good |
| schlecht | bad |
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌬️ Der Wind ist heute stärker als gestern. | The wind is stronger today than yesterday. |
| 🌧️ Die Regenwolken sind dunkler als die vorherigen. | The rain clouds are darker than the previous ones. |
| 🔥 Das Lagerfeuer brennt heller als die Laternen. | The campfire burns brighter than the lanterns. |
| 🐦 Die Vögel heute singen lauter als sonst. | The birds are singing louder than usual. |
| 🧭 Der Weg hier ist kürzer als der, den wir zuerst nahmen. | The path here is shorter than the one we took first. |
Summary
Form comparatives by adding -er, use an umlaut when required, and compare two things with als. Practice with common adjectives and pay attention to whether the adjective appears before a noun to apply the correct ending in real sentences.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025