The more the better: Italian grammar lesson 139

To translate the English phrase the more… the more… we just use one word in Italian, and a very similar construction: più… più…  The same construction can also be used with the opposite meaning, the less… the less…, that in Italian would be meno… meno…

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The more… the more… in Italian

the more the more italian

This is certainly a good expression to add to your Italian repertoire if you want to sound like a native, and it is so easy!

Let’s have a look at some examples of how to use it correctly:

Più ti conosco più mi piaci.

The more I know you, the more  I like you.

Più cerco di rilassarmi, più mi innervosisco.

The more i try to relax, the more nervous I get.

Più studi, più preparato sarai per l’esame.

The more you study, the more prepared you will be for the exam.

In English, if this construction is used with adjectives, we just add “-er” to the end of the adjective. In Italian, the construction stays the same whether it is used with adjectives, nouns or adverbs.

Più alto è il prezzo, più nuovo è il prodotto

The higher the price, the newer is the product.

Più intelligente sei, più veloce lo finirai.

The smarter you are, the faster you will finish.

Più… più… and meno… meno…

the less in italian

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Of course, this same construction can also be used with the opposite meaning, which in English would be “the less… the less…”

Meno guadagni, meno potrai acquistare.

The less you earn, the less you can buy.

Meno ti preoccupi, meno ti stresserai.

The less you worry, the less you become stressed.

As In English, we can even mix più (the more) and meno (the less):

Meno mangi, più avrai fame stasera.

The less you eat, the more you will be hungry tonight.

Più ti preoccupi, meno dormirai.

The more you worry, the less you will sleep.

Più and meno with bene and male

the more the merrier italian

As you say “better” and “worse” in English, rather than “more good” and “more bad”, in Italian we say  class=”italian-words”>meglio and peggio. 

These must be used with these constructions as well, so that, when you’re modifying the adverbs bene and male you will have to use meglio and peggio instead.

Più siamo, meglio è.

The more the better (merrier).

Più ti stressi, peggio ti sentirai.

The more you stress, the worse you will feel.

Meno studi, peggio andrà l’esame.

The less you study, the worse your exam will go.

Still translating in your head? Wanna speak Italian for real? Check out Stefano's courses to think directly in Italian and become fluent fast!

FAQs on The more the better: Italian grammar lesson 139

Does "più... più..." or "meno... meno..." has any construction rules?

The construction stays the same whether it is used with adjectives, nouns or adverbs.

How do you say "better" and "worse"?

In Italian we say meglio and peggio. 

Stefano

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