Breakdown of Das Schiff ist langsamer, aber sehr gemütlich.
sein
to be
sehr
very
aber
but
langsam
slow, slowly
Questions & Answers about Das Schiff ist langsamer, aber sehr gemütlich.
How is the comparative word langsamer formed here?
Just like in English! You take the base adjective langsam (slow) and simply add -er to the end to make langsamer (slower). Since it is a regular adjective, there are no extra vowel changes or umlauts needed.
Why don't langsamer or gemütlich have adjective endings like -es or -en?
Because they describe the noun across the verb ist (is) rather than being attached directly in front of a noun. When adjectives are used this way (called predicate adjectives), they stay in their base form and don't take any case endings. Even though langsamer ends in -er, that is just the comparative form, not a grammatical case ending!
Does gemütlich just mean cozy?
Gemütlich is a classic German word that goes a bit beyond just "cozy." It means comfortable, snug, homely, and relaxed all at once. You can use it to describe a nice room, a comfortable chair, or even a pleasant, unhurried atmosphere like on this ship.
Do I always need a comma before aber?
Yes, German punctuation rules are quite strict about this. You almost always place a comma before coordinating conjunctions that express a contrast, like aber (but) and sondern (but rather).