desto

The (In Comparisons)

Level 4

Desto helps form The more X, the more Y with ju. It can also occur independently with a comparative, meaning all the more; ju need not always precede it.

How It Works

The construction 'ju...desto...' is a powerful way to express proportional relationships in Swedish, equivalent to 'the...the...' in English (e.g., 'the sooner, the better').

Structure and Word Order
The pattern follows a specific grammatical structure:
Ju + Comparative + Subordinate Clause, desto + Comparative + Main Clause (with V2 inversion)

Let's break it down:
1. The 'ju' clause: This part supplies one changing degree or circumstance. It starts with 'ju' followed by a comparative adjective or adverb. The rest of the clause often follows subordinate clause word order, though simple phrases are also common.
- Ju mer man läser... (The more one reads...)

2. The 'desto' clause: This part supplies the corresponding degree; a causal reading depends on the context. It starts with 'desto' followed by a comparative. Crucially, this clause functions like a main clause, and the comparative phrase at the beginning triggers verb-second (V2) inversion. When the whole comparative phrase is the initial constituent, the finite verb follows that phrase. The phrase can contain more than just the comparative word.
- ...desto mer lär man sig. (...the more one learns.)
- Notice the word order: desto mer (fronted element) + lär (verb) + man (subject) + sig (object).

Alternative Form: 'ju...ju...'
In spoken Swedish, it's very common to hear 'ju...ju...' instead of 'ju...desto...'. While 'ju...desto...' is generally preferred in formal and written contexts, 'ju...ju...' is perfectly acceptable in everyday conversation.
- Ju snabbare vi går, ju fortare kommer vi fram. (The faster we walk, the quicker we'll arrive.)

In this model, the desto phrase opens the main clause and is followed by the finite verb. Desto does not invariably open a clause or determine its word order by itself.

Comparison From Context
Han sa inget men tänkte desto mer means He said nothing but thought all the more. There is no ju-clause. The order can also be reversed: Stämningen blir desto trevligare, ju fler barn som kommer.

Ju...dess... is another accepted pair, alongside ju...desto.... Ju...ju... has a long history and is heard in conversation, though many readers prefer desto or dess in edited prose. These are alternatives, not a rule that only one fixed pair exists.

Examples (4)

  1. Ju mer jag lär mig, desto mindre känner jag att jag vet.

    The more I learn, the less I feel that I know.

    Word by Word: The more I learn, the less feel I that I know.

    This example shows the classic 'ju...desto...' structure. Note the V2 inversion in the second clause: 'desto mindre' (fronted element) is followed by the verb 'känner'.

  2. Ju äldre man blir, desto klokare blir man.

    The older one gets, the wiser one becomes.

    Word by Word: The older one becomes, the wiser becomes one.

  3. Ju förr, desto bättre.

    The sooner, the better.

    Word by Word: The sooner, the better.

    A very common idiomatic phrase. Both clauses are shortened, but the underlying 'ju...desto...' structure remains.

  4. Ju mer choklad du äter, desto svårare blir det att sluta.

    The more chocolate you eat, the harder it becomes to stop.

    Word by Word: The more chocolate you eat, the harder becomes it to stop.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting verb-second (V2) inversion in the 'desto' clause.

    Ju mer man tränar, desto starkare man blir.
    Ju mer man tränar, desto starkare blir man.

    The phrase 'desto starkare' acts as the first element in the main clause, so the verb 'blir' must come immediately after it, before the subject 'man'. This is the V2 rule.

How It Connects

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

destoLevel 4The (In Comparisons)

Learn This First

To use 'desto' correctly, you need to understand how to form comparative adjectives (like 'bättre' or 'större') and how they function within the 'ju...desto' (the...the...) structure. Additionally, you must be familiar with Swedish main clause word order, as the 'desto' clause triggers specific verb placement.

Words in This Pattern

desto