The Comparative

In English we compare by adding -er to adjectives, or by using the word more:

David is younger than Jonathan, but Jonathan is more childish.

German uses ONLY the first method:

Brigitte ist intelligenter als Ulrike.

Brigitte is more intelligent than Ulrike.

(Note that als is used for than)

Some common short adjectives add Umlaut as well as the -er.

Here is a list of common ones:

alt / älter (old / older)

arm / ärmer (poor / poorer)

dumm / dümmer (stupid / more stupid)

gesund / gesünder (healthy / healthier)

groß / größer (big / bigger)

hart / härter (hard / harder)

jung / jünger (young / younger)

kalt / kälter (cold / colder)

klug / klüger (clever / cleverer)

kurz / kürzer (short / shorter)

lang / länger (long / longer)

nah / näher (near / nearer)

oft / öfter (often / more often)

scharf / schärfer (sharp / sharper)

schmal  / schmäler (narrow / narrower)

stark / stärker (strong / stronger)

warm / wärmer (warm / warmer)

These short adjectives do NOT add an Umlaut:

faul / fauler (lazy / lazier)

flach / flach (flat / flatter)

froh / froher (happy / happier)

klar / klarer (clear / clearer)

rund / runder (round / rounder)

schlank / schlanker (slim / slimmer)

voll / voller (full / fuller)

Theses ones are IRREGULAR!

gut / besser (good / better)

viel / mehr (much / more)

hoch / höher (high / higher)

gern / lieber (gladly / by preference)

Comparatives are used in the same way as adjectives. This means they need adjective endings when before a noun!

Dieser Pullerover ist billiger als der. (This pullover is cheaper than that one)

Ich kaufe den billigeren Pullover. (I'll buy the cheaper pullover)

Other methods of comparison - using wie

Margarine schmeckt nicht so gut wie Butter

Margarine does not taste as good as butter

Du schwimmst genauso gut wie ich

You swim just as well as I do

Peter hast fast soviel Geld wie Uwe

Peter has almost as much money as Uwe.