Comparative Adjectives
The comparative is used to compare two things, expressing 'more' or '-er' (bigger, better, more beautiful).
In German, most adjectives form the comparative by adding '-er' to the base form.
This lesson covers how to form comparative adjectives and how to use them in comparison sentences with 'als' (than).
Explanation
Most adjectives form the comparative by adding '-er': groß → größer (bigger), schnell → schneller (faster), schön → schöner (more beautiful).
Adjectives ending in '-d', '-t', '-s', '-ß', '-x', '-z' add '-er' normally: süß → süßer (sweeter).
Some adjectives add an umlaut in the comparative: groß → größer, alt → älter, jung → jünger.
Use 'als' (than) to compare: 'Dieser Tisch ist größer als jener' (This table is bigger than that one).
Comparative Formation
| Base Form | Comparative | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| groß | größer | größer als | bigger than |
| schnell | schneller | schneller als | faster than |
| schön | schöner | schöner als | more beautiful than |
| alt | älter | älter als | older than |
| jung | jünger | jünger als | younger than |
| gut | besser | besser als | better than |
| viel | mehr | mehr als | more than |
Irregular Comparatives
Some adjectives have irregular comparative forms that don't follow the standard '-er' pattern.
| Base Form | Comparative | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| gut | besser | besser als | better than |
| viel | mehr | mehr als | more than |
| gern | lieber | lieber als | prefer rather than |
| hoch | höher | höher als | higher than |
| nah | näher | näher als | nearer than |
Examples
Dieser Tisch ist größer als jener.
This table is bigger than that one.
Sie läuft schneller als er.
She runs faster than he does.
Das ist ein größeres Haus.
That is a bigger house.
Er ist älter als ich.
He is older than I am.
Ich mag Pizza lieber als Pasta.
I prefer pizza to pasta.
Dieses Buch ist besser als jenes.
This book is better than that one.
Common Mistakes
großer als
größer als
Comparative of 'groß' is 'größer' (with umlaut), not 'großer'.
mehr groß
größer
Use '-er' form for comparatives, not 'mehr' + adjective. 'Mehr' is only for 'viel'.
besserer als
besser als
When used predicatively (after 'sein'), comparatives don't get endings. Use 'besser als', not 'besserer als'.
Practice Exercises
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.