ju...ju
The More...the More
Recognize ju ... ju, but prefer ju ... desto or ju ... dess in neutral writing: Ju mer du övar, desto bättre blir du.
How It Works
The ju...ju construction, and its common alternative ju...desto, relates degrees or amounts in two situations. Depending on the context, it may suggest a cause, a tendency or a correlation.
Grammatical Structure:
The basic formula is:
Ju + [Comparative] + [Clause 1], ju/desto + [Comparative] + [Clause 2]
Word Order is Key:
The word order in the two clauses is different and a common point of error for learners.
- First Comparative Clause: This clause acts like a subordinate clause. The word order is:
Ju + Comparative + Subject + Verb...
Example:Ju mer man läser...(The more one reads...) - Main Comparative Clause: This clause is a main clause, but the comparative phrase is moved to the front. This is a form of topicalization and it triggers the verb-second (V2) rule. The word order is:
Ju/Desto + Comparative + Verb + Subject...
Example:...ju mer lär man sig.(...the more one learns.)
ju...ju vs. ju...desto
Ju ... desto and ju ... dess are the recommended neutral patterns. Ju ... ju is attested but stylistically disputed; the examples here help you recognize it.
Ellipsis (Shortened Phrases)
In common expressions, parts of the clauses can be omitted if the meaning is clear from context. A familiar example is 'Ju förr, desto bättre' (The sooner, the better). The repeated-ju version appears too, with the same stylistic reservation.
Usage guidance: Språkrådet accepts ju ... desto and ju ... dess. The repeated-ju variant illustrated in this entry occurs, but many readers find it awkward; prefer desto or dess in neutral writing. These constructions relate degrees or amounts without necessarily asserting a literal mathematical proportion or a proven cause.
The simple subject/verb formula describes the examples above. If the first comparative phrase itself contains the subject, som can be needed: Ju fler personer som kommer, desto bättre blir festen.
Examples (5)
- Ju mer jag lär mig, ju mer inser jag hur lite jag vet.
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
Word by Word: The more I learn myself, the more realize I how little I know.
Notice the V2 inversion in the second clause: '...ju mer inser jag...' (verb 'inser' before subject 'jag'). This illustrates the attested repeated-ju variant; desto is the safer neutral choice for the second ju.
- Ju snabbare vi går, desto fortare kommer vi fram.
The faster we walk, the sooner we will arrive.
Word by Word: The faster we go, the sooner come we forward.
This example uses 'ju...desto', which is a very common alternative to 'ju...ju'.
- Ju äldre man blir, ju klokare blir man.
The older one gets, the wiser one becomes.
Word by Word: The older one becomes, the wiser becomes one.
A classic example showing the proportional change in qualities. The verb 'blir' comes before the subject 'man' in the second part. This illustrates the attested repeated-ju variant; desto is the safer neutral choice for the second ju.
- Ju mindre socker du äter, desto bättre mår du.
The less sugar you eat, the better you feel.
Word by Word: The less sugar you eat, the better feel you.
The construction works for decreasing relationships ('the less...the better...') as well.
- Ju förr, ju bättre.
The sooner, the better.
Word by Word: The sooner, the better.
A common idiomatic expression where the rest of the clauses are omitted for brevity. The full sentence might be 'Ju förr det händer, ju bättre är det'. This illustrates the attested repeated-ju variant; desto is the safer neutral choice for the second ju.
Common Mistakes
Forgetting V2 inversion in the second clause.
Ju mer man läser, ju mer man lär sig.Ju mer man läser, ju mer lär man sig.The second part of the construction is a main clause where the comparative phrase (e.g., 'ju mer') has been moved to the front. This fronting triggers the verb-second (V2) rule, so the verb ('lär') must come immediately after the comparative phrase, before the subject ('man').
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn 'ju...ju', you must first understand how to form comparative adjectives. Additionally, this pattern is a complex sentence structure where the first part functions like a subordinate clause and the second part functions like a main clause, requiring a solid grasp of Swedish word order rules.
- -are/-astComparative/superlative
The 'ju...ju' construction relies on comparative forms of adjectives to express 'the more... the more'.
Level 2 - Subordinate clause word order
The first clause in a 'ju...ju' construction follows subordinate clause word order, requiring knowledge of where to place sentence adverbs.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- Verb-second rule
The second part of the
Level 3ju...juconstruction is a main clause that begins with a comparative phrase. This is a classic trigger for the verb-second rule, forcing the verb into the second position. The finite verb follows the initial comparative phrase in the result clause. - ju...destoThe More...the More
Ju ... desto and ju ... dess are recommended neutral patterns. Ju ... ju has the same comparative relation but is stylistically less widely accepted.
Level 2 - Fronting for emphasis
The word order of the second clause is a direct result of topicalization. The comparative phrase ('ju mer', 'desto bättre', etc.) is moved to the front of the sentence for emphasis, which in turn triggers the V2 inversion. Understanding this principle explains why the word order changes.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice ju...ju in Bubblegum
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