“The more …, the more …”

This pattern links two changes that go together: The + comparative + subject + verb, the + comparative + subject + verb. Both halves start with the, and there is usually a comma between them.

💡Many languages say this with a repeated word and no article, so learners often drop the, especially in the first half (“More you sleep, the better…”). Remember: two halves = two thes.

1. Two things change in the same direction

• The more you practise, the easier it gets.

• The longer we waited, the angrier the customers got.

2. Two things change in opposite directions — use less / fewer in one half

• The less you spend now, the more you'll have for the trip.

• The more time kids spend on screens, the fewer books they read.

3. Short forms — drop the verb be, or keep only the two comparatives when the meaning is clear

• The bigger the room, the higher the rent.

  = the bigger the room is, the higher the rent is

• When do you need it? — The sooner the better.

• Can I bring my cousin? — Sure, the more the merrier!

• The whole comparative phrase — including the adjective or noun that goes with it — comes straight after the, at the start of its half: the more comfortable I feel (not: the more I feel comfortable), the more mistakes I make.
• Short adjectives take -er, not more: the harder, the cheaper, the busier (not: the more hard). Irregular forms: good → better, bad → worse, far → further / farther, much / many → more, little → less. See the lesson “Comparatives”.
• Use the comparative, not the superlative: the more…, not the most….
• For the future, put the first half in the present simple and use will in the second — just like an if-sentence: The more you practise, the better you'll speak (not: the more you will practise).
• With be, keep the order subject + be, or leave be out: the more expensive the ticket (is). In everyday modern English, don't turn it round into “the more expensive is the ticket”.

• The more tired I get, the more mistakes I make.

• The more you practise, the better you'll speak.

  first half: present simple

• The more I got to know her, the more I liked her.

  a past story: both halves in the past

Comparative + and + comparative (busier and busier, more and more expensive) describes one thing changing little by little over time. The …, the … links two things: when one changes, the other changes too.

• Hanoi is getting busier and busier.

• More and more people are working from home.

• The busier Hanoi gets, the more I miss my quiet hometown.

💡Ask yourself how many things are changing. One thing changing over time → -er and -er / more and more. Two things, where one change causes the other → the …, the ….

• ✗More you sleep, the better you feel.

  ✓The more you sleep, the better you feel.

  The first half needs the too.

• ✗The more I study, the more better I understand.

  ✓The more I study, the better I understand.

  Better is already a comparative — don't add more.

• ✗The longer I live here, the more I feel comfortable.

  ✓The longer I live here, the more comfortable I feel.

  The adjective stays with the more, at the front.

• ✗The more hard you work, the more you earn.

  ✓The harder you work, the more you earn.

  Hard is short, so it becomes harder.

• ✗The most I travel, the more I learn about myself.

  ✓The more I travel, the more I learn about myself.

  Use the comparative, not the superlative.

• ✗The more you will practise, the better you will speak.

  ✓The more you practise, the better you'll speak.

  The first half uses the present simple for the future.