Mein Hund ist schneller als dein Hund.
English: My dog is faster than your dog.
- Language
- German
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Nominal- und Adjektivstrukturen
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In German, adjectives and adverbs can be compared by changing their forms. This is called 'Steigerung' and has three degrees: positive (basic), comparative, and superlative.
When to use it
Use these forms to compare things, people, or actions. The comparative is used to show that something has more of a quality than something else. The superlative is used to show the highest degree of a quality.
Key forms
- Positiv: schön
- Komparativ: schöner
- Superlativ: am schönsten
Examples
Sie singt am schönsten.
English: She sings the most beautifully.
Das ist das größte Haus in der Stadt.
English: That is the biggest house in the city.
Er arbeitet fleißiger als ich.
English: He works more diligently than I do.
Tips
- Most adjectives form the comparative with '-er' and the superlative with 'am ...-sten' or 'der/die/das ...-ste'.
- Remember to use 'als' for comparisons (e.g., größer als).
- Some adjectives change their stem vowel in the comparative and superlative (e.g., 'alt' → 'älter', 'am ältesten').
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some adjectives are irregular: 'gut' → 'besser' → 'am besten', 'viel' → 'mehr' → 'am meisten'.
- Adjectives ending in '-el', '-er', or '-en' may drop the 'e' in the comparative (e.g., 'teuer' → 'teurer').