GI15 · The more: 〜ば〜ほど

Before you start

The sentences use words you already know, up to the intermediate level, in kanji with furigana, and assume elementary grammar.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• GI01say something is excessive
• GI02say whether something is easy or hard to do
• GI03say what you do something for
• GI04say what you do to avoid something
• GI05pass on what you've heard
• GI06say what seems to be so
• GI07say something has just happened
• GI08say what point of an action you're at
• GI09say you start or finish something
• GI10list some of the things you do
• GI11give a reason softly
• GI12express surprise or a complaint
• GI13describe a change in ability or habit
• GI14report a decision

What you learn

〜ば 〜ほど

• ほどthe more… (〜ば〜ほど)

The ば-form + the same verb or adjective + ほど means «the more…, the more…»: よめば よむほど、おもしろく なります (the more you read it, the more interesting it gets). With い-adjectives: やすければ やすいほど いいです.

• 読よめば 読よむほど、面白おもしろく なります。yomeba yomu hodo, omoshiroku narimasu.The more you read it, the more interesting it gets.
• 安やすければ 安やすいほど、いいです。yasukereba yasui hodo, ii desu.The cheaper, the better.
• 話はなせば 話はなすほど、楽たのしく なります。hanaseba hanasu hodo, tanoshiku narimasu.The more you talk, the more fun it gets.
• 考かんがえれば 考かんがえるほど、不安ふあんに なります。kangaereba kangaeru hodo, fuan ni narimasu.The more I think about it, the more anxious I get.
• 使つかえば 使つかうほど、便利べんりに なります。tsukaeba tsukau hodo, benri ni narimasu.The more you use it, the handier it gets.
• 近ちかければ 近ちかいほど、いいです。chikakereba chikai hodo, ii desu.The closer, the better.

Practice

A short text with words and grammar you already know; kanji carry their reading above. Read it and answer.