mida ... seda

The More ..., The More

Level 4

Mida rohkem harjutad, seda paremini räägid means the more you practise, the better you speak. Each half needs a comparative.

How It Works

English says the more ..., the better. Estonian uses mida in the first half and seda in the second half. Each word is followed by a comparative:

  • Mida rohkem harjutad, seda paremini räägid. (The more you practise, the better you speak.)
  • Mida kõrgemale me ronisime, seda külmemaks läks. (The higher we climbed, the colder it got.)

Which comparative? Use the form that fits each half on its own. With a verb like rääkima, you need an adverb, so use paremini or kiiremini. With olema, use an adjective: mida vanem, seda targem. For amounts, use rohkem (more) or vähem (less). In books you will also meet enam for more: mida enam.

Short forms. The verbs can be left out when the meaning is clear: Mida varem, seda parem. (The sooner, the better.) Mida rohkem, seda uhkem. (The more, the merrier.) On its own, seda parem means so much the better.

Order. The seda half can also come first. Then the mida half follows at the end: Ta räägib seda kiiremini, mida närvilisem ta on. (He talks faster the more nervous he is.)

Comma. The mida half is a subordinate clause, so a comma always separates the two halves, even in the short forms. See comma rules.

Examples (6)

  1. Mida rohkem harjutad, seda paremini räägid.

    The more you practise, the better you speak.

    Word by Word: what-PART more practise-2SG, that-PART better speak-2SG

  2. Mida varem, seda parem.

    The sooner, the better.

    A short form with no verbs.

  3. Mida kauem ma teda tundsin, seda rohkem ta mulle meeldis.

    The longer I knew him, the more I liked him.

    kauem is the comparative of kaua (long, for a long time).

  4. Mida kõrgemale me ronisime, seda külmemaks läks.

    The higher we climbed, the colder it got.

    kõrgemale (higher up) and külmemaks (colder) are both comparatives.

  5. Ta räägib seda kiiremini, mida närvilisem ta on.

    He talks faster the more nervous he is.

    Here the seda half comes first.

  6. Mida rohkem, seda uhkem.

    The more, the merrier.

    A common saying, used when more people join in.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a plain form instead of a comparative in one half.

    Mida rohkem harjutad, seda hästi räägid.
    Mida rohkem harjutad, seda paremini räägid.

    Both halves compare, so both need a comparative. hästi (well) becomes paremini (better).

  • Leaving out the comma between the two halves.

    Mida varem seda parem.
    Mida varem, seda parem.

    The mida half is a subordinate clause, so it is always separated by a comma, even when there is no verb.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

mida ... sedaLevel 4The More ..., The More

Learn This First

The more ..., the more uses two comparatives.

Words in This Pattern

midasee