the more... the more...

This pattern links two changes that scale together: as one increases, so does the other. Use the ば conditional of a word, then repeat it with ほど (考えれば考えるほど, the more you think). With na-adjectives use なら〜なほど.

Examples

• 考かんがえれば考かんがえるほど、分わからなくなる。

  Kangaereba kangaeru hodo, wakaranaku naru.

  The more I think about it, the less I understand.

• 練習れんしゅうすればするほど、上手じょうずになります。

  Renshuu sureba suru hodo, jouzu ni narimasu.

  The more you practice, the better you get.

Vocabulary in these examples

• 考える to think, to consider
• 分かる to understand
• なる to become
• する to do
• 上手 good at; skillful

Related patterns · Degree and extent

• 〜ほど to the extent that; so... that
• 〜ばかり nothing but; only; just (did)
• 〜だけでなく not only... but also