Komparativ und Superlativ

📌 In German, adjectives can be used in three degrees of comparison:

• Positive (Positiv) – expresses equality between two objects.
• Comparative (Komparativ) – expresses that one object has a greater characteristic than the other.
• Superlative (Superlativ) – expresses that one object has the highest degree of a characteristic in a group.

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1. Positive (Positiv)

The positive degree is used to indicate that two things have the same degree of a characteristic.

🔹 1.1. Basic form

📌 Formula:

so + adjective + wie

Examples:

• Peter ist so groß wie Maria.
  (Peter is as tall as Maria.)

• Dieses Auto ist so teuer wie das andere.
  (This car is as expensive as the other one.)

Note:

• This structure is used when two objects are equal in degree.

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🔹 1.2. Variations of positive comparison

📌 Besides "so ... wie", there are other ways to express equality with different degrees.

Structure	Meaning	Example
genau so + adj + wie	exactly as	Er ist genau so groß wie sein Bruder. (He is exactly as tall as his brother.)
doppelt so + adj + wie	twice as	Dieses Haus ist doppelt so teuer wie das andere. (This house is twice as expensive as the other one.)
halb so + adj + wie	half as	Der Test war halb so schwer wie erwartet. (The test was only half as hard as expected.)
fast so + adj + wie	almost as	Ich bin fast so schnell wie du. (I am almost as fast as you.)
nicht so + adj + wie	not as	Das Wetter ist nicht so warm wie gestern. (The weather is not as warm as yesterday.)

Note:

• "Nicht so ... wie" is used to express that one object is less than the other.

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🔹 1.3. Comparison of quantity

📌 When comparing quantities, use "so viel(e) ... wie".

Examples:

• Er hat so viel Geld wie sein Freund.
  (He has as much money as his friend.)

• Wir haben so viele Bücher wie ihr.
  (We have as many books as you.)

Note:

• "Viel" is used for uncountable nouns.
• "Viele" is used for plural countable nouns.

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🔹 1.4. Which case to use after "wie"?

📌 After "wie", the noun can be in accusative or dative, depending on the verb.

Examples:

• Ich kenne ihn so gut wie dich.
  (I know him as well as I know you.) (Accusative)

• Sie hilft mir so oft wie dir.
  (She helps me as often as she helps you.) (Dative)

Note:

• The case after "wie" depends on the verb in the sentence.

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2. Comparative (Komparativ)

📌 The comparative is used to compare two objects where one has a greater degree of a characteristic.

🔹 2.1. Regular form

📌 Formula:

adjective + "-er" + als

Examples:

• Tom ist größer als Paul.
  (Tom is taller than Paul.)

• Dieses Auto ist teurer als das andere.
  (This car is more expensive than the other one.)

Note:

• "Als" is always used in comparative sentences.

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🔹 2.2. Comparison of quantity

📌 Use "mehr ... als" when comparing quantities.

Examples:

• Er hat mehr Geld als ich.
  (He has more money than me.)

• Sie liest mehr Bücher als ihr Bruder.
  (She reads more books than her brother.)

Note:

• Use "mehr" instead of adding "-er" when comparing quantities.

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3. Superlative (Superlativ)

📌 The superlative expresses the highest degree in a group.

📌 Formula:

am + adjective + "-sten" (adverb form)
der/die/das + adjective + "-ste" (adjective form)

Examples:

• Tom ist am größten.
  (Tom is the tallest.)

• Das ist das teuerste Auto.
  (This is the most expensive car.)

Note:

• "Am + -sten" is used when no noun follows.
• "Der/die/das + -ste" is used when a noun follows.

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📍 4. Irregular adjectives

📌 Some adjectives change irregularly in the comparative and superlative forms.

Table of irregular adjectives:

Positive	Comparative	Superlative
gut (good)	besser	am besten
viel (much)	mehr	am meisten
wenig (little)	weniger	am wenigsten
hoch (high)	höher	am höchsten
nah (near)	näher	am nächsten

Examples:

• Dieser Film ist besser als der andere.
  (This film is better than the other one.)

• Das ist das beste Buch, das ich je gelesen habe.
  (This is the best book I have ever read.)

Note:

• Some adjectives change their root in the comparative and superlative forms.

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🎯 5. Summary: Key points

note

Positive: so + adj + wie (Maria ist so klug wie Tom.)
Comparative: adj + "-er" + als (Maria ist klüger als Tom.)
Superlative: am + adj + "-sten" (Maria ist am klügsten.)

Quantity comparison:

• so viel(e) ... wie (so viele Bücher wie ...)
• mehr ... als (mehr Geld als ...)
  Some adjectives change irregularly in the comparative and superlative.