Adjective endings, comparatives & superlatives
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All 14 Flashcards — Adjective endings, comparatives & superlatives
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Question
die Adjektivendung
Answer
adjective ending — set by gender + case + the der-/ein-word: «der alte Mann»
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der Komparativ
Answer
comparative — «adjective + -er + als»: «schöner als» (more beautiful than)
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der Superlativ
Answer
superlative — «am …-sten» / «der/die/das …-ste»: «am schönsten» (most beautiful)
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als (vs. wie)
Answer
«als» = than (after a comparative); «wie» = as (equality, so … wie)
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so … wie
Answer
as … as (equality): «so groß wie» (as big as)
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gut → besser → am besten
Answer
good → better → best (irregular)
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viel → mehr → am meisten
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much → more → most (irregular)
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gern → lieber → am liebsten
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gladly → rather → most of all (irregular)
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hoch → höher → am höchsten
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high → higher → highest (irregular, with Umlaut)
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Umlaut im Komparativ
Answer
many one-syllable adjectives add an Umlaut: alt→älter, groß→größer, jung→jünger, lang→länger
Question
How do you say «bigger than» in German?
Answer
groß → größer (Umlaut) + als: «größer als». Comparative takes «als», never «wie».
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How do you form the superlative?
Answer
Predicative: «am + adjective + -sten» (am schönsten). Before a noun: «der/die/das + adjective + -ste» (die schönste Stadt).
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Why is «größer wie» wrong?
Answer
After a comparative (-er) German uses «als» (than), not «wie». «wie» is only for equality (so groß wie).
Question
What are the most common comparison errors?
Answer
«größer wie» instead of «als»; «mehr interessant» instead of «-er»; forgetting the Umlaut (alter→älter); dropping the adjective ending before a noun.
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Full study notes for Adjective endings, comparatives & superlatives
Topic 3.4 hub
Cases, pronouns & adjectives
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