TOPIC · Adjectives (Adjektive)

Equality comparison with genauso.....wie

A2B1

After this lesson, you will be able to express equality in German using the structures "so...wie" and "genauso...wie."

In German, comparisons are essential for expressing similarities or equivalences between people or objects. This lesson will focus on the comparison of equality, which can be formed using the structures "so...wie" and "genauso...wie". These phrases will help you express that two elements are equal in some aspect.

Using "so...wie" and "genauso...wie"

To construct a sentence expressing equality, you can use the following structure:

Sentence StructureExampleTranslation
S1 + Verb + so + Adj + wie + S2Die Katze ist so schnell wie der Hund.The cat is as fast as the dog.
S1 + Verb + genauso + Adj + wie + S2Mein Buch ist genauso interessant wie dein Buch.My book is as interesting as your book.

Examples

  • Das Auto ist so teuer wie das Motorrad.
    (This means that the car and the motorcycle have the same price.)
  • Diese Idee ist genauso gut wie die andere.
    (This means that this idea is as good as the other one.)

Similar Structures

There are additional structures that can be used similarly:

  1. halb so...wie: This means that one thing is half the size or amount of the other.

    • Example: Dieser Kuchen ist halb so groß wie der andere.
      (This cake is half as large as the other one.)

  2. doppelt so...wie: This means that one thing is twice as large or as much as the other.

    • Example: Dieser Tisch ist doppelt so schwer wie der andere.
      (This table is twice as heavy as the other one.)

  3. fast so...wie: This means that one thing is nearly as much as the other.

    • Example: Das Wetter ist fast so schön wie gestern.
      (The weather is almost as nice as yesterday.)

  4. nicht so...wie: This expresses that one thing is not equal to the other.

    • Example: Dieser Lehrer ist nicht so streng wie der andere.
      (This teacher is not as strict as the other one.)

Conclusion

Understanding and using comparison of equality in German is crucial for effectively communicating similarities between subjects. The structures "so...wie" and "genauso...wie" allow you to make precise comparisons and clarify your message. You can also employ the additional structures to express varying degrees of similarity!