The … the … comparatives

The … the … comparatives

Exercise 3

Rewrite the sentences using the… the… comparatives.

EXAMPLE: If we start soon, we’ll finish soon. ⇒ The sooner we start, the sooner we’ll finish.

1 The food I like best is spicy food.

the food, I like it.

2 I like the lessons more if there are few students.

 students, I like the lessons.

3 If I read a lot, I learn a lot.

I read, .

4 If I speak good English, I’ll have more opportunities.

 English I speak,  opportunities I'll have.

5 If I walk for a long time, I can get further.

I walk,  I can get.

6 Older people become wiser.

 people are, .

7 If you save more money, you can buy a new car soon.

you save,  you can buy a car.

8 If you give a lot you will receive more.

,  you will receive.

9 If I work a lot, I have no time.

I work,  I have.

10 If there’s a lot of unemployment, the situation gets worse.

there is,  gets.

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The … the … comparatives

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Comparative adjective or adverb

We can repeat the structure the + comparative + subject + verb to describe a cause-and-effect relationship between two things that depend on each other, where the degree of one action affects the degree of another. For example:

• The healthier you eat, the better you feel. (=If you eat healthier, you feel better.)
• The harder he works, the more stressed he is. (=If he works harder, he is more stressed.)

Note that when we have the verb be in this structure, we can omit it.

• The longer the wait, the more agitated the people become. 
• =The longer the wait is, the more agitated the people become. 

The more/the less + noun

You can also use a noun in the same structure instead of an adjective or adverb.

•  The more exercise you do, the fitter you get.
• The less carbohydrates you consume, the healthier you will be.

The more/the less + clause

Or you can use the more/the less + subject + verb instead of using an adjective or noun.

• The more you read, the wiser you get. 
• The more you know, the less you need to say. 

The …, the better

We can use the structure the + comparative adjective, the better to express preference in relation to the quantity or quality of something.

• Please call me soon. The sooner, the better. 
• A: ‘Isn’t this fridge too big?’   B: ‘No, the bigger, the better.’ 

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