Two-part connector 'je … desto' (the more … the more)

The connector je … desto ("the more … the more") links two comparatives and shows that two things change together: when one rises, so does the other.

It uses two clauses with different word order:

• The je-clause is a subordinate clause: je + comparative, and the verb goes to the end.
• The desto-clause (also je … umso) is a main clause: desto + comparative comes first, then the verb in second position, then the subject (inversion).

Examples:

• Je mehr ich übe, desto besser werde ich. - The more I practise, the better I get.
• Je älter er wird, desto ruhiger ist er. - The older he gets, the calmer he is.
• Je länger wir warten, desto teurer wird es. - The longer we wait, the more expensive it gets.

Common mistakes. Don't forget the verb at the end of the je-clause (Je mehr ich übe, not Je mehr übe ich). After desto the verb comes straight after the comparative (desto besser werde ich). You can replace desto with umso with no change in meaning. Both halves need a comparative form (mehr, besser, älter), not the basic adjective.

'je … desto' links two comparatives (the more … the more).

Links two comparatives; 'je'-clause = verb last, 'desto'-clause = verb second.

'je … desto' verbindet zwei Komparative (je mehr … desto …).