Breakdown of Obwohl der Rabe klein ist, ist er weitaus anpassungsfähiger.
sein
to be
er
he
klein
small
obwohl
although
weitaus
much (by far, with comparatives)
der Rabe
the raven
anpassungsfähig
adaptable
Questions & Answers about Obwohl der Rabe klein ist, ist er weitaus anpassungsfähiger.
How does weitaus work here, and could I just use viel instead?
Yes, you could use viel, but weitaus (meaning 'by far' or 'much') sounds slightly more formal and emphasizes a larger contrast. When intensifying a comparative adjective like anpassungsfähiger, degree adverbs like weitaus, wesentlich, or bedeutend elevate your German to a solid B2 level.
Why does the second half of the sentence start with the verb ist?
This is due to the standard verb-second (V2) rule. The entire subordinate clause Obwohl der Rabe klein ist occupies the first position in the overall sentence structure. Therefore, the conjugated verb ist must immediately follow it in the second position, coming right before the subject er.
How is the adjective anpassungsfähiger constructed?
It is the comparative form of the compound adjective anpassungsfähig. This combines the verb sich anpassen (to adapt) with the suffix -fähig (capable of). The -s- in the middle is a linking letter (Fugen-s) used to glue the parts together smoothly.
Is Rabe an n-declension noun, and does that change its ending here?
Yes, der Rabe belongs to the n-declension (weak nouns) group. However, it does not get an extra ending in this sentence because it acts as the subject of the Obwohl clause, putting it in the nominative case. In any other case, it would take an -n ending, such as den Raben.
Learn Obwohl der Rabe klein ist, ist er weitaus anpassungsfähiger and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free