coraz + Comparative

Increasing Change

Level 3

The particle coraz is used with comparative forms to express that something is happening 'more and more' or 'increasingly' over time.

How It Works

The word coraz functions as a particle that marks progression. It is placed immediately before a comparative form to indicate that a quality is increasing or decreasing over time. It is used in three main ways:

  • With Synthetic Comparatives: With words that have a suitable synthetic comparative, place coraz before the comparative form.
    Example: szybciej (faster) → coraz szybciej (faster and faster).
  • With Analytic Comparatives: When using an analytic comparative, coraz precedes bardziej (more) or mniej (less).
    Example: coraz bardziej zmęczony (more and more tired).
  • With Quantities: It is paired with więcej (more) or mniej (less). Crucially, the noun that follows must be in the Genitive case.
    Example: coraz więcej pracy (more and more work).

Modifying Verbs: To express that an action is happening with increasing frequency or intensity, standard coraz cannot modify the verb directly in modern everyday Polish. Instead, you must use it with a comparative adverb like częściej (more often) or bardziej/mocniej (more/harder). However, the variant coraz to can modify verbs directly to indicate an action happening every now and then (e.g., Coraz to zmieniał zdanie — He kept changing his mind every now and then).

The 'Coraz to' Variant: You may encounter coraz to, which is used to describe repetitive actions or a sequence of new, distinct occurrences. Unlike standard coraz, coraz to can be followed by an adjective in the positive (base) degree, most commonly nowy or inny (e.g., coraz to nowe pomysły — more and more new ideas appearing one after another), as well as the comparative degree (e.g., coraz to nowsze).

Spelling Note: Be careful not to confuse the single word coraz (increasingly / more and more) with the two-word phrase co raz (every time / once in a while).

Note: Coraz is never used with the superlative (naj-) degree, as it describes a process of change rather than a final state.

For the ordinary increasing-degree meaning, bare coraz cannot precede a positive adjective: use coraz wyższy, not coraz wysoki. The separate coraz to nowe pattern presents successive new things; it is not permission to put any base adjective after bare coraz.

Examples (6)

  1. Pogoda robi się coraz cieplejsza.

    The weather is getting warmer and warmer.

    Word by Word: Weather makes itself increasingly warmer.

    Here, 'coraz' is used with the comparative adjective 'cieplejsza' to show a gradual change in temperature.

  2. Mówię po polsku coraz lepiej.

    I speak Polish better and better.

    Word by Word: I speak after Polish increasingly better.

    In this case, 'coraz' modifies the comparative adverb 'lepiej' to show progress in a skill.

  3. Mamy coraz mniej czasu.

    We have less and less time.

    Word by Word: We have increasingly less time.

    Using 'coraz' with 'mniej' (less) requires the noun 'czasu' to be in the genitive case.

  4. Ten film staje się coraz bardziej interesujący.

    This movie is becoming more and more interesting.

    Word by Word: This movie becomes itself increasingly more interesting.

    For this analytic comparative, we use bardziej and place 'coraz' before it.

  5. W mieście jest coraz więcej samochodów.

    There are more and more cars in the city.

    Word by Word: In city is increasingly more cars.

    This shows an increasing quantity using 'więcej' followed by the genitive plural 'samochodów'.

  6. Dziecko płacze coraz częściej.

    The child is crying more and more often.

    Word by Word: Child cries increasingly more often.

    To show that an action happens with increasing frequency, we use 'coraz' with the comparative adverb 'częściej', rather than modifying the verb directly.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the base (positive) form of the adjective instead of the comparative.

    On jest coraz wysoki.
    On jest coraz wyższy.

    In the increasing-degree pattern, use a comparative after bare coraz: wyższy, not wysoki. The separate coraz to construction has the additional uses explained below.

  • Using 'coraz' with the superlative (naj-) form.

    Jest coraz najzimniej.
    Jest coraz zimniej.

    'Coraz' indicates a progression and must be used with the comparative degree, not the superlative degree.

  • Doubling up 'bardziej' with a synthetic comparative.

    Czuję się coraz bardziej lepiej.
    Czuję się coraz lepiej.

    If an adverb has its own comparative form like 'lepiej', you should not add 'bardziej'. Use bardziej with words whose meaning permits analytic comparison.

How It Connects

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coraz + ComparativeLevel 3Increasing Change

Learn This First

Learn Comparative Adjectives before Increasing Change.

Words in This Pattern

coraz