The double comparative “the more …, the more …” shows that two things change together. Each part begins with the and a comparative form (more, less, better, faster…). The structure is the same in speech and writing, and it can be shortened in fixed phrases.
Form
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| the + comparative + subject + verb, the + comparative + subject + verb | The more you practise, the better you get. |
| the + comparative, the + comparative (short) | The sooner, the better. |
When to use it
- Cause and result changing together: The harder you work, the more you earn.
- With adjectives: The warmer the weather, the happier people are.
- With adverbs and nouns: The more time we have, the less we hurry.
- Short sayings: The more, the merrier. The sooner, the better.
Examples
- The more you practise, the better you get.
- The older I get, the wiser I become.
- The sooner, the better.
- The more expensive the hotel, the better the service.
- The less you worry, the happier you are.
- The harder he worked, the more tired he felt.
Common mistakes
- Missing “the”: More you practise, better you get → The more you practise, the better you get.
- “More … more” without the comparative: The more good → The better.
- A comma is normal between the two parts.