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als
/als/
when
Ich war noch ein Kind, als ich nach Berlin zog.
I was still a child when I moved to Berlin.
temporal
at the time that; during the time when
Er war noch Student, als er das Unternehmen gründete.
He was still a student when he founded the company.
Used to indicate a point in time or a period during which something happened.
comparative
than (used in comparisons)
Berlin ist größer als München.
Berlin is larger than Munich.
Introduces the second element in a comparison of inequality.
similitude/role
as (used to indicate role or function)
Er arbeitet als Lehrer.
He works as a teacher.
Indicates the role or function someone or something fulfills.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Context is key
Always check whether 'als' is used for time, comparison, or role. For example, 'Er ist größer als ich' (comparison) vs. 'Ich war müde, als ich ankam' (time).
Gold Rule
Temporal 'als'
Use 'als' for a single past event or a specific point in time. For repeated past events, use 'wenn'.
Comparative 'als'
Always use 'als' after comparative adjectives or adverbs (e.g., 'besser als', 'schneller als').
Word Origin
From Old High German 'alsō', related to Old English 'ealswā' (as, like) and Gothic 'als' (as).
Usage Notes
The meaning of 'als' depends heavily on context—temporal, comparative, or role-based. It is not interchangeable with 'wenn' (if) or 'wann' (when) in all cases.
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