German Grammar A–Z
Look up German grammar topics A–Z, organized by category and level — with clear explanations and examples.
Equative Comparison with genauso … wie
In German, there are 3 types of comparison: the comparative (Komparativ), the superlative (Superlativ) and the equative (comparison of equality). Each type of comparison has its own characteristics and is classified in different ways. Today's article will help you better understand the types of equative comparison in German.
- The equative in German is used to compare things, phenomena or people that are similar in nature or characteristics.
- The structure so.....wie or genauso....wie can be used in the equative.
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S1 + Verb + so/ genauso + Adj/Adv + wie + S2 |
S1+ Verb + (S2) + so/ genauso + (Adj/Adv + Nomen) + wie + S3 |
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- S1 and S2 are both nouns or pronouns in the Nominativ. |
- S3 is determined based on whether the object of comparison is S1 or S2. |
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Die Smartwatch ist so teuer wie das Handy. (The smartwatch is as expensive as the phone.) → The watch and the phone are equal in price. |
Ich habe so viele Hausaufgaben wie du. (I have as much homework as you.) → du is compared with ich (S1 - subject) → Nominativ |
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Mein Hund ist genauso klein wie dein Hund. (My dog is as small as your dog.) → The two dogs are equally small. |
Ben liebt seine Mutter genauso wie seinen Vater. (Ben loves his mother just as much as his father.) → Vater is compared with seine Mutter (S2 - Akkusativ) → seinen Vater |
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Jan ist so schwer wie Marcel. (Jan is as heavy as Marcel.) → Jan and Marcel weigh the same. |
Wir vertrauen ihm genauso wie dir. (We trust him just as much as we trust you.) → dir is compared with ihm (S2 - Dativ) → dir |
- In addition, there are a few other structures similar to the structure of the equative:
1. halb so..... wie: half as ... as
Example: Dieser Kuchen ist halb so groß wie der andere.
(This cake is half as big as the other one.)
2. doppelt so....wie: twice as ... as
Example: Dieser Kuchen ist doppelt so groß wie der andere.
(This cake is twice as big as the other one.)
3. fast so...wie: almost as ... as
Example: Dieser Kuchen ist fast so groß wie der andere.
(This cake is almost as big as the other one.)
4. nicht so....wie: not as ... as
Example: Dieser Kuchen ist nicht so groß wie der andere.
(This cake is not as big as the other one.)
