Log inSign up free
Langula for iPhone and iPad ★ 4.1Get it free
A2Word classes

Groß, größer, am größten

What does “am liebsten” mean compared with “gern”?

Take a look

Berlin ist größer als Hamburg.

Berlin is bigger than Hamburg.

Take a look

  • Berlin ist größer als Hamburg.Berlin is bigger than Hamburg.
  • Der Mount Everest ist am höchsten.Mount Everest is the highest.
  • Mein Bruder ist so alt wie ich.My brother is as old as I am.
  • Sie ist die beste Schülerin.She is the best student.
  • gutgootgood

The rule

Adjectives let you compare things. The basic form is groß, the comparative is größer and the highest form is am größten. Often the comparative adds -er and the highest form uses am ... -sten. Some words change a vowel, as groß does; others have special forms, such as gut, besser, am besten. The course also shows am liebsten and größten. Learn these groups of forms together.

Remember: Basic, comparative, highest: groß, größer, am größten.

Goes with lesson 13, 17, 28 of the course.

What differs for you

English has big, bigger and biggest, so three comparison levels are familiar. German likewise adds endings, but the highest form often includes am, and a vowel can change: “groß, größer, am größten”. Some words have a special series, such as “gut, besser, am besten”. Learn the German trio together rather than attaching an English ending.

AdvertisementLearn without ads

The forms

Three degrees

GrundformVergleichhöchste Stufe
großgrößeram größten
schnellschnelleram schnellsten
gutbesseram besten
gernlieberam liebsten

Common mistakes

  • *groß, großer, am großestengroß, größer, am größten.
  • *gut, guter, am gutestengut, besser, am besten.
AdvertisementLearn without ads

Quick check

A2
  1. Form the comparative.schnell → ___
  2. Form the superlative.alt → am ___
  3. Choose the correct form.Dieses Buch ist ___ als das andere.
  4. Correct the mistake.Er ist größer wie sein Bruder.
  5. Insert the correct form.Sie singt am ___ . (good)
  6. Choose the correct form.Ich trinke ___ Tee als Kaffee.

The answers appear after “Check”.

The same exercises come back in the course — there Langula remembers what you know and asks again at the right moment. Learn German free →

← Grammar

Word classes

A1Der, die, das and ein, eineWhy do different words appear before nouns?A1Nouns, verbs and adjectivesWhat do “Suppe”, “spiele” and “groß” tell you?A1Plural nounsWhat changes in “Brüder” and “Kinder”?A1Personal pronounsPersonal pronouns replace nouns and indicate the person.A2Adjective endingsWhy “einen roten Mantel” but “eine freundliche Person”?A2Mein, dein, sein: whose is it?Whose passport does “Ihren Reisepass” refer to?
AdvertisementLearn without ads

Learn German, don’t just read about it

The sentences on this page are part of the free course — with pronunciation and repetition.

Start for free