Intermediate Grammar 8.

4
ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS - THE DOUBLE COMPARATIVE
Double comparatives express that the degree of one action directly affects or will probably
affect the result of another action. This is one way to express the principle of cause and effect.
We can find different patterns like the ones below:
The + comparative + the + comparative.
- The sooner, the better.
(if something happens soon, it will be better)
- The more, the merrier.
(if more people come, we will be happier)
The + comparative + noun + the + comparative.
- The stronger the coffee, the better.
(when the coffee is very strong, I like it better)
- The more people at a party, the noisier.
(if there are a lot of people at a party, the noise will be louder)
The + comparative + noun + the + comparative + noun.
- The cheaper the product, the poorer the quality.
(when a product is cheap, the quality is normally poor)
- The older the wine, the better the taste.
(if a wine is old, it usually tastes good)
The + comparative + clause + the + comparative + clause.
- The more he eats, the fatter he gets.
(when he eats a lot, he gets fat)
- The farther you live from work, the earlier you have to get up.
(if you live far from work, you will have to get up earlier)

NOTE: We can combine the above structures as long as they sound logical:
-

I 8.4

The more medicine, the worse I feel.

The less fast food you eat, the better.

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS The Double Comparative

ONLINE

Intermediate Grammar 8.4

PRACTICE: THE DOUBLE COMPARATIVE
I. Make a sentence out of the other two using the double comparative.
1. When the weather is cold, she feels bad.
...The colder the weather, the worse she feels...
2. If he eats a lot, he gets fat.
..........................................................................
3. If a hotel is cheap, the service is usually bad.
..........................................................................
4. When she sings more often, she will become more famous.
...........................................................................
5. If you study hard, youll get higher grades.
............................................................................

II. Complete the sentences below with the fragments.

...the later I get to work.
...the less time it takes to clean.
...the faster you will run.
...the worse she feels.
...the more care he needs.
...the better I feel.
...the more tired we get.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

The smaller the house, .........the less time it takes to clean.........

The more she drinks,
The more we work, ..
The later I get up, ...
The less I smoke, ..
The older a person is,
The more you train, ..

I 8.4

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS The Double Comparative

ONLINE

Intermediate Grammar 8.4

ANSWERS: Practice I 8.4

Exercise I:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

The colder the weather, the worse she feels.

The more he eats, the fatter he gets.
The cheaper the hotel, the worse the service.
The more often she sings, the more famous she will become.
The harder you study, the higher grades you will get.

Exercise II:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

the less time it takes to clean.

the worse she feels.
the more tired we get.
the later I get to work.
the better I feel.
the more care he needs.
the faster you will run.

I 8.4

ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS The Double Comparative

ONLINE