Expresses that a change in one quality causes a proportional change in another.
The more you learn, the more you earn • The harder you work, the luckier you get
The less you study, the fewer points you get
The sooner we leave, the earlier we arrive?
Idiomatic expressions without full clauses.
The bigger, the better • The sooner, the better • The more, the merrier
the less said, the better
The more, the merrier?
| Example / Question | Positive / Short Answer | Negative / Short Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Short Adj: hard & lucky | The harder you study, the luckier you get. | Both clauses start with "THE" |
| Long Adj: expensive & good | The more expensive it is, the better the quality is. | Use "more + long adj" |
| Idiom: The more, the merrier | The more, the merrier. | Means: Càng đông càng vui |
| Rule | Base / Standard Form | Applied Form |
|---|---|---|
| Both Clauses Start with "The" Rule | BOTH clauses in double comparatives MUST begin with the word "THE" followed by a comparative form! | The more... the better |
| Comparative Forms Requirement Rule | Use appropriate comparative forms: -er for short adjectives (harder, faster), "more/less" for long adjectives (more expensive). | The faster... the more efficient |
| Comma Separation Rule | A comma MUST separate the two clauses in double comparative structures. | The more you practice, the better you perform. |
Show how one increase or decrease directly causes another.
Encourage effort by promising greater results.
Respond idiomatically to invitations or offers.
Yes! E.g., "THE HARDER (-er) you work, THE MORE SUCCESSFUL (more) you become." You mix short and long comparatives freely.
Yes! E.g., "The less you worry, the less stressed you feel" (Càng ít lo lắng càng ít căng thẳng).
It means "the more people who participate, the more fun/enjoyable the occasion will be" (Càng đông càng vui).
