Breakdown of Ein Motorrad ist lauter als ein Fahrrad.
sein
to be
ein
a, an (eine)
das Fahrrad
the bicycle
laut
loud, loudly
als
than
das Motorrad
the motorcycle
Questions & Answers about Ein Motorrad ist lauter als ein Fahrrad.
How is the word lauter formed?
lauter is the comparative form of the adjective laut (loud). Just like in English, you add -er to the end of a regular German adjective to compare things. So, laut becomes lauter (louder).
Why does this sentence use als for "than"? Can I use wie?
You must use als (than) when comparing two things that are unequal, like when one is louder than the other. You only use wie (as) when two things are equal, for example in so laut wie (as loud as).
Why do both Motorrad and Fahrrad use ein?
Both words are compound nouns ending in the word Rad (wheel or bike), which is a neuter noun (das Rad). In German, the last word in a compound noun determines its gender, so both are neuter and use the neuter article ein.
What case is ein Fahrrad in at the end of the sentence?
It is in the nominative case. When comparing two things using als, the second item usually takes the same case as the first item. Since the subject ein Motorrad is in the nominative case, ein Fahrrad is too.
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