Learn German: Die Ausgaben waren leider höher, als wir am Anfang schätzten. - The expenses were unfortunately higher than we estimated at the beginning.

Die Ausgaben waren leider höher, als wir am Anfang schätzten.

The expenses were unfortunately higher than we estimated at the beginning.

Breakdown of Die Ausgaben waren leider höher, als wir am Anfang schätzten.

Questions & Answers about Die Ausgaben waren leider höher, als wir am Anfang schätzten.

Why is the verb schätzten at the very end of the sentence?

In this sentence, als acts as a subordinating conjunction introducing a real comparative clause. This means it kicks the conjugated verb (schätzten) to the end of the clause. You will see this verb-final word order whenever you use als to compare a fact or situation with another full clause.

Could I use wie instead of als here?

In standard German, no. Because you are expressing an inequality or difference (they were höher / higher), you must use als. You only use wie when two things are equal (for example, so hoch wie). You might hear native speakers use wie for inequalities in certain regional dialects, but it is considered incorrect in standard written German.

Why does hoch change its spelling so much to become höher?

The adjective hoch is irregular. When it forms the comparative, it drops the c and adds an umlaut, becoming höher. Interestingly, the c comes back in the superlative form: am höchsten.

Why use the Präteritum (simple past) schätzten instead of the Perfekt geschätzt haben?