By the end of this lesson, I can…
- Equality with so...wie
- Difference with a comparative and als
- Appearance with als ob
- Hypothetical comparison without ob
- Degree relationships with je...desto
- Identifying the comparison type
Simple explanation
German comparison sentences help you describe similarities, differences, changing relationships, and imagined situations. This lesson explains how to use als, wie, je … desto, and als ob correctly, including word order, Konjunktiv II, common patterns, and practical examples for B2 learners.
Equality with so...wie
Equality uses a base adjective with so...wie: Anna ist so groß wie Mia. Wie links the comparison's members. A full clause must preserve subject and time; equality in one feature is not identity in every feature.
Difference with a comparative and als
Standard unequal comparisons use a comparative with als: größer als, schneller als. So groß als and größer wie are not the formal patterns taught here; distinguish dialectal usage from formal writing. Learn irregular comparative forms separately.
Appearance with als ob
Als ob commonly introduces a hypothetical comparison: Er tut so, als ob er alles wüsste. The verb is final and Konjunktiv II is common. The form can mark appearance or pretence without independently proving the opposite reality.
Hypothetical comparison without ob
In Er tut so, als wüsste er alles, omitting ob gives a verb-first comparison after als. Distinguish this from comparative als and temporal als. Earlier reference can use als hätte er...; preserve the whole clause's meaning.
Degree relationships with je...desto
In Je mehr ich übe, desto sicherer werde ich, the je-clause is verb-final; the desto-comparative occupies the front field before the finite verb. Umso may also fit. This relationship does not by itself establish an exact numerical proportion.
Identifying the comparison type
Decide whether the sentence expresses equality, inequality, correlated degree or hypothetical appearance. Als alone is insufficient because it can also be temporal: Als ich ankam... . Read construction, time expressions and speaker commitment together before reformulating.
Usage reference table
| Pattern or function | Target-language model |
|---|---|
| Equality with so...wie | Anna ist so groß wie Mia. |
| Difference with a comparative and als | Anna ist größer als Mia. |
| Appearance with als ob | Tom tut so, als ob er alles wüsste. |
| Hypothetical comparison without ob | Tom tut so, als wüsste er alles. |
| Degree relationships with je...desto | Je mehr ich übe, desto sicherer werde ich. |
| Meaning in context | Anna ist so groß wie ihre Schwester. |
Grammar formula
Equality with so...wie
so + Adjektiv + wie + VergleichEr ist so groß wie sein Bruder.
Difference with a comparative and als
Komparativ + als + VergleichDieses Auto ist schneller als das andere.
Degree relationships with je...desto
Je + Komparativ + Subjekt + ... + finites Verb, desto + Komparativ + finites Verb + Subjekt + ...Je mehr du lernst, desto besser sprichst du Deutsch.
Appearance with als ob
als ob + Subjekt + ... + Konjunktiv IIEr tut so, als ob er alles wüsste.
Core rules
- 1
Equality with so...wie
Equality uses a base adjective with so...wie: Anna ist so groß wie Mia. Wie links the comparison's members. A full clause must preserve subject and time; equality in one feature is not identity in every feature.
- 2
Difference with a comparative and als
Standard unequal comparisons use a comparative with als: größer als, schneller als. So groß als and größer wie are not the formal patterns taught here; distinguish dialectal usage from formal writing. Learn irregular comparative forms separately.
- 3
Appearance with als ob
Als ob commonly introduces a hypothetical comparison: Er tut so, als ob er alles wüsste. The verb is final and Konjunktiv II is common. The form can mark appearance or pretence without independently proving the opposite reality.
- 4
Hypothetical comparison without ob
In Er tut so, als wüsste er alles, omitting ob gives a verb-first comparison after als. Distinguish this from comparative als and temporal als. Earlier reference can use als hätte er...; preserve the whole clause's meaning.
- 5
Degree relationships with je...desto
In Je mehr ich übe, desto sicherer werde ich, the je-clause is verb-final; the desto-comparative occupies the front field before the finite verb. Umso may also fit. This relationship does not by itself establish an exact numerical proportion.
- 6
Identifying the comparison type
Decide whether the sentence expresses equality, inequality, correlated degree or hypothetical appearance. Als alone is insufficient because it can also be temporal: Als ich ankam... . Read construction, time expressions and speaker commitment together before reformulating.
Useful examples
Mein Bruder ist so groß wie ich.
My brother is the same height as me.
Dieses Buch ist interessanter als der Film.
This book is more interesting than the movie.
Je mehr du übst, desto besser sprichst du Deutsch.
The more you practise, the better you speak German.
Je länger ich arbeite, desto müder werde ich.
The longer I work, the more tired I become.
Er sieht aus, als ob er krank wäre.
He looks as if he were ill.
Sie spricht Deutsch, als ob sie eine Muttersprachlerin wäre.
She speaks German as if she were a native speaker.
Das neue Modell ist günstiger als das alte.
The new model is cheaper than the old one.
Der Film war nicht so spannend, wie ich erwartet hatte.
The film was not as exciting as I expected.
Er tut so, als ob er nichts gehört hätte.
He acts as if he had not heard anything.
Je früher wir anfangen, desto schneller sind wir fertig.
The earlier we start, the faster we will finish.
Common mistakes
- ❌ Anna ist so groß als Mia. ✅ Anna ist so groß wie Mia.
- ❌ Anna ist größer wie Mia. ✅ Anna ist größer als Mia.
- ❌ Tom tut so, als ob er alles wüsstest. ✅ Tom tut so, als ob er alles wüsste.
- ❌ Tom tut so, als wüssten er alles. ✅ Tom tut so, als wüsste er alles.
- ❌ Je mehr ich übe, desto ich werde sicherer. ✅ Je mehr ich übe, desto sicherer werde ich.
- ❌ Anna ist so groß wie ihre Schwester. → An unequal comparison ✅ Anna ist so groß wie ihre Schwester. → Equality in a property
Learning tips
- In Je mehr ich übe, desto sicherer werde ich, the je-clause is verb-final; the desto-comparative occupies the front field before the finite verb. Umso may also fit. This relationship does not by itself establish an exact numerical proportion.
- Decide whether the sentence expresses equality, inequality, correlated degree or hypothetical appearance. Als alone is insufficient because it can also be temporal: Als ich ankam... . Read construction, time expressions and speaker commitment together before reformulating.
Use it in your own text
Write six new sentences about your life, experiences or views. Use the rules and table and check why each form fits. The models are illustrations; you need not force every form into one text. This is self-assessment; the test score is recorded separately.
- Write a new example about a real or imagined situation using “Equality with so...wie”.
- Write a new example about a real or imagined situation using “Difference with a comparative and als”.
- Write a new example about a real or imagined situation using “Appearance with als ob”.
- Write a new example about a real or imagined situation using “Hypothetical comparison without ob”.
- Write a new example about a real or imagined situation using “Degree relationships with je...desto”.
- Compare the form and meaning of two of your examples and explain the difference.
Show the model
Mein Bruder ist so groß wie ich. Dieses Buch ist interessanter als der Film. Je mehr du übst, desto besser sprichst du Deutsch. Je länger ich arbeite, desto müder werde ich. Er sieht aus, als ob er krank wäre. Sie spricht Deutsch, als ob sie eine Muttersprachlerin wäre.
Check your own work
- My intended meaning fits the chosen construction.
- I checked subject, verb form, case/preposition and word order.
- I adapted the models to my own context and considered the exceptions.
Put it into practice
Try two questions without an account. Sign up free to continue and save your results and progress.
Related grammar
Related dictionary words
Frequently asked questions
What matters for “Equality with so...wie”?
Equality uses a base adjective with so...wie: Anna ist so groß wie Mia. Wie links the comparison's members. A full clause must preserve subject and time; equality in one feature is not identity in every feature.
What matters for “Difference with a comparative and als”?
Standard unequal comparisons use a comparative with als: größer als, schneller als. So groß als and größer wie are not the formal patterns taught here; distinguish dialectal usage from formal writing. Learn irregular comparative forms separately.
What matters for “Appearance with als ob”?
Als ob commonly introduces a hypothetical comparison: Er tut so, als ob er alles wüsste. The verb is final and Konjunktiv II is common. The form can mark appearance or pretence without independently proving the opposite reality.
What matters for “Hypothetical comparison without ob”?
In Er tut so, als wüsste er alles, omitting ob gives a verb-first comparison after als. Distinguish this from comparative als and temporal als. Earlier reference can use als hätte er...; preserve the whole clause's meaning.
What matters for “Degree relationships with je...desto”?
In Je mehr ich übe, desto sicherer werde ich, the je-clause is verb-final; the desto-comparative occupies the front field before the finite verb. Umso may also fit. This relationship does not by itself establish an exact numerical proportion.
What matters for “Identifying the comparison type”?
Decide whether the sentence expresses equality, inequality, correlated degree or hypothetical appearance. Als alone is insufficient because it can also be temporal: Als ich ankam... . Read construction, time expressions and speaker commitment together before reformulating.
Keep your reading history and test results with a free account.
Sign up free and continue