German · A2 · Everyday language
Different but Equal in German
Learn to compare everyday things in German, describe similarities and differences, and make room for different tastes.
What you'll learn
- Use so ... wie to say that two things are equal in some way.
- Use genauso ... wie to emphasize that two things are just as good, big, or colourful.
- Use nicht so ... wie to describe a difference without saying that something is bad.
- Use possessive pronouns to avoid repeating nouns.
German phrases for different but equal
Dein Rucksack ist so schwer wie meiner.
Your backpack is as heavy as mine.
Meiner means 'mine' and replaces mein Rucksack.
Dein Poster ist genauso bunt wie Mias.
Your poster is just as colourful as Mia's.
Add -s to Mia to show possession: Mias. German does not use an apostrophe here.
Dieses Spiel ist nicht so schwierig wie das da.
This game is not as difficult as that one.
Das da is a natural, informal way to say 'that one', especially when pointing.
Du bist genauso groß wie dein Cousin.
You are just as tall as your cousin.
Groß means 'tall' when comparing people's height. For a female cousin, use deine Cousine.
Dein Zimmer ist nicht so ordentlich wie die Küche.
Your room is not as tidy as the kitchen.
Nicht so ordentlich wie means 'not as tidy as'; it does not necessarily mean the room is untidy.
Radfahren macht so viel Spaß wie Schwimmen.
Cycling is as fun as swimming.
German naturally says 'makes as much fun as'. Activity names used as nouns, such as Radfahren and Schwimmen, start with capital letters.
Deine Idee ist genauso gut wie meine.
Your idea is just as good as mine.
Meine means 'mine' and replaces meine Idee.
Dieser Film ist nicht so spannend wie das Buch.
This film is not as exciting as the book.
Spannend means 'exciting' or 'gripping', especially for stories, films, and books.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
der Rucksack
backpack
A masculine noun: dein Rucksack means 'your backpack'.
bunt
colourful
Use this for something with many colours.
schwer
heavy; difficult
For a backpack, it means 'heavy'. For a task, it can mean 'difficult'.
ordentlich
tidy; orderly
Useful for describing a room, desk, or cupboard.
Spaß machen
to be fun
Das macht Spaß means 'That is fun'. Viel Spaß means 'a lot of fun'.
die Idee
idea
A feminine noun: deine Idee means 'your idea'.
Equal comparisons: so ... wie and genauso ... wie
Put the adjective between so or genauso and wie. So ... wie means 'as ... as'; genauso ... wie emphasizes 'just as ... as'. Keep the adjective in its basic form, not its comparative form.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| As ... as | so + adjective + wie | Dein Rucksack ist so schwer wie meiner. |
| Just as ... as | genauso + adjective + wie | Deine Idee ist genauso gut wie meine. |
| As much fun as | so viel Spaß machen wie | Radfahren macht so viel Spaß wie Schwimmen. |
Unequal comparisons: nicht so ... wie
Put nicht before so to say 'not as ... as'. This describes a lower degree of a quality. Use wie, not als, in this pattern.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Not as ... as | nicht so + adjective + wie | Dieser Film ist nicht so spannend wie das Buch. |
Avoiding repetition with possessives
Instead of repeating a noun, use a possessive pronoun such as meiner or meine. Its ending depends on the noun it replaces and its role in the sentence. With a name such as Mia, add -s to express possession.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mine: masculine, nominative | mein Rucksack → meiner | Dein Rucksack ist so schwer wie meiner. |
| Mine: feminine, nominative | meine Idee → meine | Deine Idee ist genauso gut wie meine. |
| Mia's | Mias Poster → Mias | Dein Poster ist genauso bunt wie Mias. |
More examples
Dein Bild ist genauso schön wie meines.
Your picture is just as beautiful as mine.
Meines replaces mein Bild because Bild is neuter.
Für mich ist Lesen so spannend wie Spielen.
For me, reading is as exciting as playing.
Für mich makes clear that this is your personal view.
Dieses Spiel ist nicht so schwierig wie das andere. Beide machen Spaß.
This game is not as difficult as the other one. Both are fun.
Things can be different and still both be enjoyable.