Two quantities change together
This paired English construction expresses relationships such as “as the music gets louder, talking gets harder”. The first half identifies one changing quantity; the second identifies what changes along with it.
Each half starts with a comparative phrase introduced by the. A comma normally separates them. The first half sets up a change and the second describes a related change. The construction often describes a condition or cause, but does not itself prove causation.
The + comparative phrase + subject + verb, the + comparative phrase + subject + verb
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
The louder the music gets, the harder it is to talk.
The louder the music gets, the harder it is to talk.
Both quantities increase; each half opens with a comparative phrase.
The more patient you are, the calmer the lesson feels.
The more patient you are, the calmer the lesson feels.
A comparative phrase can contain two words: more patient.
The colder it gets, the more soup we cook.
The colder it gets, the more soup we cook.
In the second half, the noun soup is part of the phrase with more.
Two instances of the and two comparatives
The here is not an article before a noun: it comes before a comparative and opens its half of the construction. It is therefore needed in both halves, not just the first.
Another common problem is doubling or omitting the comparative. Each half needs a comparative form: faster, more careful, less tired. A plain form such as fast or a superlative such as most does not fit.
the + faster / the + more careful / the + less tired
The earlier the train leaves, the emptier the platform looks.
The earlier the train leaves, the emptier the platform looks.
Both halves contain the and a comparative.
The more carefully you check, the fewer errors remain.
The more carefully you check, the fewer errors remain.
The adverb carefully also forms a comparative phrase with more.
Forming the comparative
Many short adjectives and some adverbs form comparatives with -er: taller, faster, nicer, happier, with consonant + y changing to i. Longer adjectives and most -ly adverbs use more: more difficult, more carefully. Irregular forms include good/well → better, bad/badly → worse, far → farther or further.
For a decrease, use less: less tired, less time. Before a plural countable noun, use fewer: fewer mistakes. Do not form double comparatives such as more taller.
-er / more + adjective; better, worse, farther; less + adjective or uncountable noun; fewer + countable noun
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
- adjective —
- A word describing what someone or something is like: happy, tired, interesting.
The nicer the weather, the fuller the park.
The nicer the weather, the fuller the park.
Short adjectives with -er.
The worse the traffic, the later we arrive.
The worse the traffic, the later we arrive.
The irregular comparative worse.
The more difficult the question, the longer I think.
The more difficult the question, the longer I think.
The longer adjective forms a phrase with more.
Word order and nouns in the phrase
The comparative phrase comes first in its half. If it contains a noun, as in more money or fewer rules, keep the noun inside that phrase: the more money you save. Do not split the phrase.
The initial comparative phrase is usually followed by subject and verb: the more money you save. If the phrase itself is the subject, do not add another subject: the more people come. Neutral word order has no question inversion. Be is sometimes omitted: the older the car, the lower the price.
The more people come, the more chairs we need.
The more people come, the more chairs we need.
The noun belongs to the comparative phrase in both halves.
The less money I carry, the lighter my bag feels.
The less money I carry, the lighter my bag feels.
Less money is the phrase; subject and verb follow it.
The fewer rules a game has, the easier it is to learn.
The fewer rules a game has, the easier it is to learn.
Fewer goes with countable rules.
Directions of change and tense
The quantities can move in the same direction, as in more…more or less…less, or in opposite directions, as in more…less or less…more. Each comparative specifies its own direction, so do not confuse them.
For a future conditional relationship, use the present rather than will in the first half: the sooner you register. The second half can use will or a present tense, depending on meaning.
The more I worry, the less I sleep.
The more I worry, the less I sleep.
Opposite directions of change.
The fewer cars there are, the quieter the street is.
The fewer cars there are, the quieter the street is.
As the number of cars decreases, the street becomes quieter.
The sooner you register, the cheaper the course will be.
The sooner you register, the cheaper the course will be.
Present tense in the first half; will in the second.
Shortened forms and the limits of the rule
Short expressions can omit subject and verb: The cheaper, the better. The more, the merrier. These remain paired constructions, with the and a comparative in each half.
Do not confuse this pattern with other comparisons. As tall as compares equal degrees, taller than expresses a difference, and colder and colder describes one increasing quantity. The paired construction describes two related changes; than does not connect its halves.
The cheaper, the better.
The cheaper, the better.
A shortened form without subject or verb.
The more, the merrier.
The more, the merrier.
A fixed expression.
He is as tall as his father.
He is as tall as his father.
Equality rather than a paired relationship.
It gets colder and colder.
It gets colder and colder.
One quantity increases; there is no pair.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:More you practise, more you improve.
Correct:The more you practise, the more you improve.
The is missing in both halves: it must introduce each comparative phrase.
Incorrect:The harder you work, more you earn.
Correct:The harder you work, the more you earn.
The second half is missing the, leaving the construction incomplete.
Incorrect:The sooner you call, the fast they reply.
Correct:The sooner you call, the faster they reply.
After the, use the comparative faster, not the plain form fast.
Incorrect:The more famous the hotel is, the more better the service is.
Correct:The more famous the hotel is, the better the service is.
Better is already comparative, so more is unnecessary.
Incorrect:The more people come, the more do we need chairs.
Correct:The more people come, the more chairs we need.
No inversion is needed after the comparative phrase, and chairs must remain within that phrase.