jee méi ... desto méi

The More ..., The More ...

Level 4

Jee méi ..., desto méi ... means the more ..., the more ...: Jee méi ech schaffen, desto méi midd sinn ech.

How It Works

1. The two halves

  • jee + comparative + ... + verb at the end: Jee méi ech schaffen,
  • desto + comparative + verb + subject: desto méi midd sinn ech.

2. Méi with an adjective
Most adjectives form the comparative with méi (méi ... wéi), so méi stays together with its adjective in both halves: Jee méi laang mer waarden, desto méi deier gëtt et. (The longer we wait, the more expensive it gets.)

3. One-word comparatives
Words such as besser and manner take the place of méi: Jee méi een üübt, desto manner Feeler mécht een. (The more you practise, the fewer mistakes you make.)

4. Desto or ëmsou
Ëmsou, written as one word, means the same as desto: Jee méi een de Kanner eppes verbitt, ëmsou méi beschäftegt et se. (The more you forbid children something, the more it occupies them.)

5. Short forms
In short sayings the verbs can drop out completely: Jee méi fréi, desto besser! (The earlier, the better!)

A comma always separates the two halves.

Examples (5)

  1. Jee méi ech schaffen, desto méi midd sinn ech.

    The more I work, the more tired I am.

    Schaffen goes to the end of the jee part; sinn comes right after desto méi midd.

  2. Jee méi ee liest, desto méi léiert een.

    The more you read, the more you learn.

    Een becomes ee before the l of liest.

  3. Jee méi laang mer waarden, desto méi deier gëtt et.

    The longer we wait, the more expensive it gets.

  4. Jee méi een üübt, desto manner Feeler mécht een.

    The more you practise, the fewer mistakes you make.

    Manner (fewer) replaces méi in the second half.

  5. Jee méi fréi, desto besser!

    The earlier, the better!

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the verb second in the jee part.

    Jee méi schaffen ech, desto méi midd sinn ech.
    Jee méi ech schaffen, desto méi midd sinn ech.

    The jee part is a subordinate clause, so schaffen goes to its end.

  • Putting the subject before the verb in the desto part.

    Jee méi ech schaffen, desto méi midd ech sinn.
    Jee méi ech schaffen, desto méi midd sinn ech.

    Desto méi midd fills the first place of the main clause, so the verb sinn must come next, before ech.

How It Connects

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

jee méi ... desto méiLevel 4The More ..., The More ...

Learn This First

Before The More ..., the More ..., learn Comparing: Méi ... wéi and The Verb at the End of Subordinate Clauses.

Words in This Pattern

destoëmsou