Komparativ - Vergleich
Komparativ — for English Speakers
Introduction
German comparatives work like English short adjectives: add -er (schnell → schneller, like fast → faster). But German ALWAYS uses -er, even for long adjectives — there's no 'more interesting', only 'interessanter'. The comparison word is 'als' (than), not 'wie'. Many common adjectives also get an umlaut: groß → größer, alt → älter.
German vs English
In German
schneller (faster) — add -er like English
In English
fast → faster — same -er pattern
Key Difference
German always adds -er. English uses 'more' for longer words; German never does.
In German
größer als ich (bigger than me)
In English
bigger than me
Key Difference
German uses 'als' for 'than'; common mistake is using 'wie' (which means 'as/like').
Common Mistakes for English Speakers
Er ist größer wie ich.
Using 'wie' (as/like) instead of 'als' (than) — a very common error even among native Germans informally.
Das Auto ist mehr schnell.
Translating English 'more fast' — German never uses 'mehr' for comparative adjectives.
Practice Examples
Berlin ist größer als München.
Berlin is bigger than Munich.
Das Auto ist schneller als das Fahrrad.
The car is faster than the bicycle.
Sie ist älter als ihr Bruder.
She is older than her brother.
Memory Tip
German comparatives are simple: ALWAYS -er, NEVER 'mehr'. And remember: 'als' = than, 'wie' = as.
View Grammar Rule
Komparativ - Vergleich
Komparativ — A2
Practice Exercises
Komparativ - Vergleich Übungen
8 exercises
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