Wie vs. Als | Super Easy German (88)

Summary

This episode of the podcast explains the common confusion between the German words *'als'* and *'wie'*, which are both used for comparisons but in different contexts. *'Als'* is used for comparisons of inequality, while *'wie'* is used for comparisons of equality. The speaker provides several examples to illustrate the differences, such as *'New York ist größer als Berlin'* (New York is bigger than Berlin) for inequality, and *'Wien ist so groß wie Hamburg'* (Vienna is as big as Hamburg) for equality. Viewers are encouraged to practice these concepts interactively through a learning app that offers pronunciation exercises and comparisons with native speakers.

Takeaways

• 😀 *Als* is used for comparisons of inequality, typically with comparative adjectives like bigger, faster, etc.
• 😀 *Wie* is used for comparisons of equality, indicating that two things are the same or similar in some way.
• 😀 A common mistake is confusing *wie* and *als*, even among native German speakers.
• 😀 When comparing unequal things, such as New York being bigger than Berlin, *als* is used.
• 😀 When comparing things that are equal, such as Vienna and Hamburg being the same size, *wie* is used.
• 😀 Even when a sentence negates equality, like in *nicht so viel Trinkgeld wie in den USA* (not as much tip as in the USA), *wie* is still used because the structure implies a comparison of equality.
• 😀 Remember: use *als* with comparative forms (bigger, faster) to express differences.
• 😀 Use *wie* to express similarity, especially in sentences like *so groß wie* (as big as) or *genauso viel wie* (just as much as).
• 😀 The sentence *Ich stehe genauso hoch wie Alex* (I am standing as tall as Alex) demonstrates equality using *wie*.
• 😀 You can practice this grammar using apps that provide interactive lessons, pronunciation comparisons, and exercises.

Q & A

What is the main difference between 'als' and 'wie' in German?

'Als' is used when comparing two things that are unequal (e.g., 'größer als' - 'bigger than'), while 'wie' is used for comparisons of equality (e.g., 'so groß wie' - 'as big as').

When should 'als' be used in comparative sentences?

'Als' should be used when comparing two things that are different or unequal, such as in sentences using comparative forms (e.g., 'größer als' - 'bigger than').

When is 'wie' used in comparative sentences?

'Wie' is used when comparing two things that are the same or very similar, indicating equality (e.g., 'so groß wie' - 'as big as').

Can 'wie' ever be used in a context that expresses inequality?

Yes, 'wie' can be used when a sentence expresses inequality but has a structure implying equality, such as in a sentence that negates the comparison, like 'nicht so viel Trinkgeld wie in den USA.' (Not as much tip as in the USA).

How do you determine whether to use 'als' or 'wie' in a sentence with comparative forms?

Use 'als' when the sentence involves comparative forms like 'größer', 'kleiner', 'mehr', 'weniger', etc., which indicate inequality. Use 'wie' when expressing equality or similarity (e.g., 'so viel wie', 'so groß wie').

What is the structure of a sentence that uses 'als' for comparison?

A sentence using 'als' typically compares two different things, such as 'A is bigger than B' (e.g., 'New York ist größer als Berlin' - 'New York is bigger than Berlin').

What is the structure of a sentence that uses 'wie' for comparison?

A sentence using 'wie' compares two things that are the same or very similar, such as 'A is as big as B' (e.g., 'Wien ist so groß wie Hamburg' - 'Vienna is as big as Hamburg').

What is an example of a sentence that correctly uses 'als' in German?

An example is 'Alex ist größer als ich' (Alex is bigger than me), where 'als' is used to express inequality in size.

What is an example of a sentence that correctly uses 'wie' in German?

An example is 'Mein Kopf ist nicht so groß wie der Kopf der Statue' (My head is not as big as the statue’s head), where 'wie' is used to express equality or similarity.

How can learners practice using 'als' and 'wie' correctly?

Learners can practice by using interactive tools like language learning apps that allow them to compare their pronunciation with native speakers, view grammatical information, and do exercises related to 'als' and 'wie'.