Comparative Adverbs

Adverbs describe how, when, where, or to what extent something happens. Comparative adverbs show that one action is done to a greater or lesser degree relative to another. This guide focuses on common comparative adverbs and how to use them clearly.

Key Adverbs

Key adverbs tell you manner, time, place, or degree. Learn a few common ones in German so you can describe actions in detail.

German Word(s)	English Word(s)
wie	like, as
sehr	very
mehr	more
weniger	less
besser	better
schneller	faster
langsam	slow(ly)
oft	often
jetzt	now

German Example	English Translation	Note
🐢 Die Schildkröte läuft langsam.	The turtle walks slowly.	Basic adverb
🌸 Die Schildkröte frisst draußen.	The turtle eats outside.	Place
☀️ Sie ist heute sehr aktiv.	She is very active today.	Degree
⏰ Die Schildkröte schläft früh ein.	The turtle falls asleep early.	Time
🐇 Heute läuft die Schlange schneller als sonst.	Today the snake runs faster than usual.	Manner comparison

Making Comparisons

Comparisons often use mehr (more) or weniger (less) plus an adverb, or you use a comparative form like besser (better) when it exists. To say two things are equal you can use so ... wie.

Comparative Forms

Some adverbs have short comparative forms derived from adjectives, while others use mehr to form the comparative. It's more natural to use the adjective's comparative when you describe manner and use mehr for more general adverbs.

German Example	English Translation	Note
🐢 Die Schildkröte läuft langsamer als der Hase.	The turtle runs slower than the hare.	Comparative with als
🐇 Der Hase läuft schneller als die Schildkröte.	The hare runs faster than the turtle.	Opposite comparison
🦆 Die Ente schwimmt schneller als die Schildkröte läuft.	The duck swims faster than the turtle runs.	Cross-verb comparison
🌅 Am Morgen läuft die Schildkröte langsamer als am Abend.	In the morning, the turtle runs slower than in the evening.	Time comparison
🐍 Die Schlange gleitet schneller als die Schildkröte läuft.	The snake glides faster than the turtle runs.	Style variation

Using so ... wie

Use so ... wie to express equality. Place so before the adverb and wie after the element you are comparing. This construction works for adverbs and adjectives alike.

German Example	English Translation	Note
🐢 Die Schildkröte läuft nicht so schnell wie der Hase.	The turtle does not run as fast as the hare.	Negation with so ... wie
🐎 Der Hase läuft so schnell wie der Wind.	The hare runs as fast as the wind.	Simile with so ... wie
🌳 Die Schildkröte ist nicht so groß wie der Fuchs.	The turtle is not as big as the fox.	Size comparison
🐿️ Das Eichhörnchen springt so hoch wie die Schildkröte langsam läuft.	The squirrel jumps as high as the turtle walks slowly.	Parallel comparison
🌧️ Heute läuft die Schildkröte nicht so schnell wie sonst.	Today the turtle does not run as fast as usual.	Degree comparison

Signal Words

Signal words tell you whether to use a comparative, mehr, or an equal comparison like so ... wie. Words like statt (instead of) and mehr suggest a comparative, while genau and ebenso support equal comparisons.

German Example	English Translation	Note
⚠️ Die Schildkröte läuft langsamer, heute.*	The turtle runs more slowly today.	Signal word: today
🔄 Gestern rannte der Hase schneller als heute.	Yesterday the hare ran faster than today.	Signal word: yesterday
➕ Der Fuchs läuft noch schneller als die Schlange.	The fox runs even faster than the snake.	Intensifier
❗ Die Schildkröte läuft sehr langsam den Hügel hinauf.	The turtle walks very slowly up the hill.	Degree adverb
🏁 Am Ende des Rennens war der Hase deutlich schneller.	At the end of the race, the hare was clearly faster.	Clarity marker

Summary

Comparative adverbs either use a comparative form like besser, or they use mehr/weniger plus the adverb. Use so ... wie for equal comparisons. Learn key adverbs and practice these patterns to describe actions precisely in German.

Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025