The More... The More (Double Comparatives)
Level B1 · Adjectives & Adverbs
The double comparative pattern the + comparative..., the + comparative... links two changes that happen together: as one thing increases or decreases, another changes accordingly. The more you practice, the better you get links two comparatives — more (practice) and better (skill) — to show that they rise together.
How to build the double comparative:
- the + comparative + clause, the + comparative + clause: The more you practice, the better you get; The older I get, the wiser I become.
- For adjectives/adverbs with one syllable, add -er: The bigger the house, the higher the price. For longer adjectives, use the more/the less: The more expensive the hotel, the better the service (usually).
- much and many become the more, and little becomes the less, following the irregular comparative pattern: The more money you have, the more problems you get; The less you worry, the happier you'll be.
- The pattern can also compare a quantity/degree to a result without repeating comparative forms twice: The sooner we leave, the sooner we'll arrive; The harder you work, the more you achieve.
The most common mistake is forgetting the every time, and dropping it from one or both halves — More you practice, better you get is wrong; both halves need the: The more you practice, the better you get. A second mistake is using more/most incorrectly with short adjectives that need -er — The more big the house, the more high the price is wrong; short adjectives take -er: The bigger the house, the higher the price.
Look for two clauses, each opening with the + a comparative form, joined together without and or but — this signals that one change causes or accompanies the other. Check that both halves keep the, and that the comparative form (bigger vs more expensive) matches the length of the adjective involved.