01
als
than
Used for comparisons after a comparative, for example bigger, faster, better.
example
Mein Bruder ist älter als ich.
My brother is older than me.
als
than / when / as
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Meanings
01 / 05
Usage tips
Comparisons with the comparative
After a comparative form, such as 'größer' (bigger), 'besser' (better), or 'schneller' (faster), 'als' (than) is always used for the comparison. The nouns or pronouns being compared stand in the same case.
EXAMPLE
Ein Elefant ist viel größer als eine Maus.
An elephant is much bigger than a mouse.
Point in time in the past
As a temporal conjunction, 'als' (when) introduces a subordinate clause that describes a one-time event in the past. The conjugated verb stands at the end of the clause.
EXAMPLE
Als ich jung war, gab es noch keine Smartphones.
When I was young, there were no smartphones yet.
Role or function
To describe the profession, role, or function of a person or thing, German uses 'als' (as) followed by a noun in the nominative. With job titles, usually no article is used.
EXAMPLE
Er arbeitet seit fünf Jahren als Ingenieur.
He has been working as an engineer for five years.
Unreal comparisons
The phrase 'als ob' (as if) introduces an unreal comparative clause, which usually uses Konjunktiv II. The verb stands at the end. A shorter variant is 'als' + Konjunktiv II verb at the beginning of the subordinate clause.
EXAMPLE
Er redet so, als ob er der Chef wäre.
He talks as if he were the boss.
Two-part conjunction
The fixed expression 'sowohl … als auch' (both … and) is a two-part conjunction. It connects two equivalent parts of a sentence and means something like 'and also'.
EXAMPLE
Das neue Restaurant bietet sowohl Fleischgerichte als auch vegane Speisen an.
The new restaurant offers both meat dishes and vegan meals.
Common mistake in comparisons
After a comparative, for example 'älter' (older) or 'besser' (better), 'als' (than) must be used for the comparison. Using 'wie' (like/as) here is a common mistake in colloquial speech, but it is not correct in standard language.
EXAMPLE
Dein Koffer ist schwerer als meiner.
Your suitcase is heavier than mine.
Compare with
als vs und
and
'und' and 'als' can both connect two equivalent things in certain expressions. Normally, you simply use 'und' for this: 'Tee und Kaffee' (tea and coffee). 'als' only fits here in the fixed construction 'sowohl ... als auch' (both ... and). This form emphasizes more strongly that both things really apply. Learners may confuse the words because 'sowohl ... als auch' works similarly to 'und'. On its own, however, 'als' cannot simply replace 'und'.
als
Am Bahnhof sind heute sowohl Busse als auch Züge verspätet.
At the station today, both buses and trains are delayed.
und
Greta hat im Zug ihr Handy und den Laptop benutzt.
Greta used her phone and laptop on the train.
In real life
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