The More, The Merrier
The…the comparatives are really common and a useful way to express changes in relationships in English. Let’s have a look!
The…The Comparatives Explanation
Comparatives are adjectives that use ER to show the connection between two things. We often use “than”.
I am bigger than you.
Another more specific area of grammar here is expressed by using “The…the” with these ER adjectives. It shows the relationship between two things increasing or decreasing together.
Structure: the + comparative adjective + clause + the + comparative adjective + clause
The more delicious it is, the more I buy. (NOT The more it is delicious, the more I buy.)
The older I grow, the uglier I become.
The richer I become, the more problems I have.
We often shorten these forms too: ‘the more the merrier’
‘How do you like your tea?’ ‘The stronger the better.’
Common Mistakes
- Never say “more tastier”. ER and MORE have the same meaning, so never use them together.
- Don’t put ER on words 3 syllables or longer
- Don’t put MORE before words 2 syllables or shorter
- Don’t put the verb before the adjective (The more it is beautiful…)
Practice
1. If the explanation is simple, the students will understand =
2. If the food is fresh, it will be healthy =
3. If the bird carries a huge stick, it will be hard to fly. =
Answers
1. The simpler (the explanation), the better.
2. The fresher (the food is), the healthier (it will be).
3. The larger the stick (is), the more difficult it is to fly / The lighter the stick, the easier it is to fly.
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