Kilo Lingo

Ch 36 · Lesson 9

Correlative comparison: cuanto más... más, cada vez más

, (the more... the more) ties two changes together; (colder and colder) is one change over time.

The short version

locks two changes together

, .

The more I work, the more tired I am.
Why?

Use plus a clause, plus a clause, when one change drives another: , . Use when only one quantity is drifting, with nothing on the other side of the scale: . for the more I read is a straight mistranslation.

The patterns at a glance

The whole page on one screen. Basic and are on comparatives and superlatives.

morelessas muchWhat do the colours mean?
PatternSpanishEnglish
the more , .The more I work, the more I earn.
the less , .The less you sleep, the worse you feel.
more and more .It's getting colder and colder.
less and less .There are fewer and fewer people.
twice .He/She earns twice as much as me.
half .I only slept half the night.
as much as .He/She works as much as you.
so much that .I work so much that I don't sleep.
however much , .However hard I try, I can't.

Cuanto más... más: the more, the more

morelessthe part that agreesWhat do the colours mean?

Two changes locked together: + clause, then + clause. Either half can go up or down, and and slot straight in:

Cuanto
First change
Then
Second change
,
.
,
.
,
.
,
.
HalvesSpanishEnglish
more, more , .The more I work, the more tired I am.
less, worse , .The less you sleep, the worse you feel.
more, less , .The more you eat, the less hungry you are.
set phrase , .The more the better.
set phrase , .The sooner the better.

Before a noun, agrees with it like an adjective:

  • , . - The more hours I work, the more I earn.

In Latin America you will often hear for the same thing: , . - The more I think about it, the more I like it.

Cada vez más: more and more

morelessWhat do the colours mean?

When only one thing is changing over time, use + the comparative. Literally "each time more":

ChangeSpanishEnglish
colder .It's getting colder and colder.
fewer .There are fewer and fewer people in the village.
better .He/She speaks Spanish better and better.
higher .Prices are higher and higher.

The difference is the whole point. is one quantity drifting; ties one change to another:

  • . - I read more and more.
  • , . - The more I read, the more I learn.

Do not confuse it with , every time: , . - Every time it rains, I stay at home.

Going further: El doble, la mitad: twice and half and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.

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Lesson 9 of 30 in this chapter

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What do the colours mean?