Welcome back — Lesson 43! Ready to compare options like a pro? We'll listen, practice, then say the phrases aloud so they feel natural.
Level B1: In this lesson you'll practice German phrases for comparing things (differences, similarities, time and preference). We'll focus on templates like „___ ist nicht so ___ wie ___.“ and other useful comparison frames. This CEFR-aligned practice helps you explain choices and recommend the best option.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Use common B1 comparison frames to say what is similar or different.
Explain preferences and the main difference between two options.
Practice speaking aloud simple comparison sentences and short justifications.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
___ ist nicht so ___ wie ___.
___ is not as ___ as ___.
Meaning: ___ is not as ___ as ___.
When to use: Say this when one thing does not reach the same level as another (quality, size, price...).
Tip: Beginner mistake: forgetting „wie“ at the end or using the comparative without „so ... wie“.
Das neue Auto ist nicht so teuer wie das Sportwagen-Modell.
The new car is not as expensive as the sports model.
Mein Computer ist nicht so schnell wie dein Computer.
My computer is not as fast as your computer.
___ ist fast so ___ wie ___.
___ is almost as ___ as ___.
Meaning: ___ is almost as ___ as ___.
When to use: Use when two things are very close in the quality you describe.
Das Modell B ist fast so leistungsstark wie Modell A.
Model B is almost as powerful as Model A.
Der Zug ist fast so schnell wie das Flugzeug auf dieser Strecke.
The train is almost as fast as the plane on this route.
Der Hauptunterschied ist ___.
The main difference is ___.
Meaning: The main difference is ___.
When to use: Use this to identify the single most important difference.
Der Hauptunterschied ist die Akkulaufzeit.
The main difference is the battery life.
Der Hauptunterschied ist, dass eines kleiner und das andere robuster ist.
The main difference is that one is smaller and the other is more robust.
Sowohl ___ als auch ___ sind ___.
Both ___ and ___ are ___.
Meaning: Both ___ and ___ are ___.
When to use: State what two things share (a quality or characteristic).
Sowohl das Telefon als auch das Tablet sind praktisch.
Both the phone and the tablet are practical.
Sowohl die Option A als auch Option B sind teuer.
Both option A and option B are expensive.
Das kommt darauf an, was du brauchst.
It depends on what you need.
Meaning: It depends on what you need.
When to use: Explain that the best choice changes depending on the listener's needs.
Das kommt darauf an, was du brauchst.
It depends on what you need.
Das kommt darauf an, was du brauchst – mehr Speicher oder bessere Kamera?
It depends on what you need — more storage or a better camera?
Welches davon ist ___?
Which one is more ___?
Meaning: Which one is more ___?
When to use: Ask for a simple comparison (use comparative form like „günstiger“, „größer“).
Tip: Use the comparative form (e.g., „praktischer“), not the base adjective.
Welches davon ist günstiger, das Modell A oder Modell B?
Which one is cheaper, Model A or Model B?
Welches davon ist praktischer für das Büro?
Which one is more practical for the office?
Zwischen ___ und ___ gibt es keinen großen Unterschied.
There isn't much difference between ___ and ___.
Meaning: There isn't much difference between ___ and ___.
When to use: Say that two options are only slightly different.
Zwischen dem alten und dem neuen Modell gibt es keinen großen Unterschied.
There isn't much difference between the old and the new model.
Zwischen Kaffee und Tee gibt es keinen großen Unterschied in dieser Kategorie.
There isn't much difference between coffee and tea in this category.
___ und ___ haben viel gemeinsam.
___ and ___ have a lot in common.
Meaning: ___ and ___ have a lot in common.
When to use: Say that two people, things or ideas share important similarities.
Auto A und Auto B haben viel gemeinsam.
Car A and Car B have a lot in common.
Diese beiden Restaurants haben viel gemeinsam: ähnliche Preise und Ambiente.
These two restaurants have a lot in common: similar prices and atmosphere.
___ dauert länger als ___.
___ takes longer than ___.
Meaning: ___ takes longer than ___.
When to use: Compare time needed for activities, routes or processes.
Die Busfahrt dauert länger als die Zugfahrt.
The bus ride takes longer than the train ride.
Die Installation dauert länger als das Update auf dem Laptop.
The installation takes longer than the update on the laptop.
Einerseits ___, andererseits ___.
On the one hand, ___; on the other hand, ___.
Meaning: On the one hand, ___; on the other hand, ___.
When to use: Balance two contrasting points when comparing options.
Einerseits ist das günstig, andererseits fehlt Komfort.
On the one hand it's cheap; on the other hand it lacks comfort.
Einerseits ist es schneller, andererseits ist es teurer.
On the one hand it's faster; on the other hand it's more expensive.
Ich mag ___ lieber als ___, weil ___.
I prefer ___ to ___ because ___.
Meaning: I prefer ___ to ___ because ___.
When to use: State a preference between two options and give a simple reason.
Tip: Remember verb placement after „weil“: the conjugated verb usually goes to the end.
Ich mag das Fahrrad lieber als das Auto, weil es günstiger ist.
I prefer the bicycle to the car because it is cheaper.
Ich mag Modell B lieber als Modell A, weil es praktischer ist.
I prefer Model B to Model A because it's more practical.
___ ist einfacher zu ___ als ___.
___ is easier to ___ than ___.
Meaning: ___ is easier to ___ than ___.
When to use: Compare two things by saying one is easier for a certain action (use infinitive with zu).
Dieses Programm ist einfacher zu bedienen als das andere.
This program is easier to use than the other.
Der Weg über die Brücke ist einfacher zu gehen als der steile Pfad.
The route over the bridge is easier to walk than the steep path.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna and David compare two tablet models while deciding which to buy.
What are Anna and David comparing?
Anna
Ich überlege, ein neues Tablet zu kaufen. Welches davon ist günstiger, Modell A oder Modell B?
I'm thinking of buying a new tablet. Which one is cheaper, Model A or Model B?
David
Modell B ist fast so schnell wie Modell A, aber leichter.
Model B is almost as fast as Model A, but lighter.
Anna
Der Hauptunterschied ist die Akkulaufzeit.
The main difference is the battery life.
David
Zwischen Modell A und Modell B gibt es keinen großen Unterschied beim Display.
There isn't much difference between Model A and Model B in the display.
Anna
Das kommt darauf an, was du brauchst.
It depends on what you need.
David
Ich mag Modell B lieber als Modell A, weil es praktischer ist.
I prefer Model B to Model A because it's more practical.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which German sentence means: "It depends on what you need."?
Which German phrase asks: "Which one is more practical?"
Which phrase means: "There isn't much difference between the old and the new model."?
Which sentence says: "I prefer Model B to Model A because it's more practical."?
Both the phone and the tablet are useful: Both ___ and ___ are ___.
Both the phone and the tablet are useful: ___.
Which one is more practical? Welches davon ist ___?
Which one is more practical? ___.
On the one hand it's cheap; on the other hand: „Einerseits ___, andererseits ___.“
On the one hand it's cheap; on the other hand ___.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
Say this phrase out loud:
___ ist nicht so ___ wie ___.
___ is not as ___ as ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
___ ist fast so ___ wie ___.
___ is almost as ___ as ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
Der Hauptunterschied ist ___.
The main difference is ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
Sowohl ___ als auch ___ sind ___.
Both ___ and ___ are ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
Das kommt darauf an, was du brauchst.
It depends on what you need.
Say this phrase out loud:
Welches davon ist ___?
Which one is more ___?
Say this phrase out loud:
Zwischen ___ und ___ gibt es keinen großen Unterschied.
