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Learn to Speak German Online:
German Grammar Guidebook

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Comparison

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Adjectives and adverbs exhibit three degrees of the quality they express:
 

Positive Comparative Superlative
big bigger biggest
 

Comparison of Adjectives and Adverbs

To form the comparative of most German adjectives and adverbs add -er to the positive form.

POSITIVE
 

slow langsam
nice schön
small klein
fast schnell

COMPARATIVE
 

slower langsamer
nicer schöner
smaller kleiner
faster schneller

For some one-syllable adjectives and adverbs, you must also add an umlaut to the root vowel.

POSITIVE
 

old alt
big groß
long lang

COMPARATIVE
 

older älter
bigger größer
longer länger

In future lessons, the vocabulary will note the words that umlaut in the comparative: alt (älter). The above list includes all we have seen so far.

A few very important comparative forms are irregular. The following list includes those we have already seen.

POSITIVE
 

good gut
gladly gern
soon bald

COMPARATIVE
 

better besser
preferably lieber
sooner eher

Attributive Use of Comparative Adjectives

If you use comparative forms attributively, add the attributive endings after the -er-. The same general and special rules apply.

GENERAL RULE: All attributive adjectives take an automatic -e-.
 

später => spätere-

SPECIAL RULE 1: After ein, add -r for masculine nouns.
 

Ein späterer Bus kommt um 10.
A later bus will arrive at 10.

SPECIAL RULE 2: After ein, add -s for neuter nouns.
 

Mein Hotel hat ein längeres Anmeldeformular.
My hotel has a longer check-in sheet.

SPECIAL RULE 3: After das, add nothing else.
 

Das Sternhotel ist das schönere Hotel.
The Star Hotel is the nicer hotel

SPECIAL RULE 4: After eine or die, if the noun is singular, add nothing else.
 

Finden Sie eine bessere Entschuldigung!
Find a better excuse!
Schreiben Sie die längere Adresse hier.
Write the longer phone address here.

SPECIAL RULE 5: After der, if the noun is masculine and singular, add nothing else.
 

Der größere Koffer ist braun.
The larger suitcase is brown.

SPECIAL RULE 6: After any other article ending, add -n.
 

Die besseren Hotels sind in der Stadtmitte.
The better hotels are in the city center.


Examples of Comparison

  • Sie gehen 50 Meter geradeaus. Dann eine Treppe tiefer. Dort sehen Sie Schilder. Folgen Sie immer dem S-Zeichen.
  • Ach so, richtig. Es ist 4.30 Uhr in Atlanta. Ich rufe später an.
  • Sonst gibt es ein paar Baustellen, und es dauert länger.