Plus... plus..., moins... moins... = the more...the more..., the less...the less... (comparisons with phrases)

In French, to make comparisons with phrases, you will use plus...plus or moins...moins.

How to make comparisons with phrases in French

Look at these comparisons:

Plus je regarde la télévision, plus je la détesteThe more I watch television, the more I hate it.

Plus tu es beau, plus la vie est facile.The more beautiful you are, the easier life is

Moins je dors, moins j'en ai besoinThe less I sleep, the less I need to

Plus j'écoute, moins je l'aimeThe more I listen, the less I like it
 

Notice that expressions like the more X the more Y are similar in French, but the definite article (the) doesn't make an appearance.

Note also that in French you keep the order of the sentence intact, unlike English where you put the adjective after more for example, The more anxious you are...

Plus nous sommes généreux, plus les gens nous le rendront.The more generous we are, the more people will give back to us.

See also Better and better, worse and worse = de mieux en mieux, de pire en pire (Comparisons in French)De plus en plus / De moins en moins + [adverbe/adjectif/verbe] = more and more / less and less + [adverb/adjective/verb] (Comparisons in French) and De plus en plus de / de moins en moins de + [nom] = more and more / less and less + [nouns] (Comparisons in French)

Here are other Comparative structures:

Plus ... que/Moins ... que/Aussi ... que = More ... than/Less ... than/As ... as (Comparisons with Adjectives in French)
Plus ... que/Moins ... que/Aussi ... que = More ... than/Less ... than/As ... as (Comparisons with Adverbs in French)
Plus que/Moins que/Autant que = More than/Less than/As much as (Comparisons with Verbs in French)
Plus de ... que/Moins de ... que/Autant de ... que = More ... than/Less ... than/As much/many ... as (Comparisons with Nouns in French)

And Superlative structures:

Le/la/les plus and Le/la/les moins = The most and the least (Superlative with Adjectives in French)
Le plus/Le moins = The most/the least (Superlative with Adverbs in French)
Forming the superlative of French adjectives in complex cases
Meilleur, mieux, pire / plus mauvais, plus mal = better, best, worse and worst in French (irregular comparatives and superlatives)

 

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Moins je dors, moins j'en ai besoinThe less I sleep, the less I need to
Plus j'écoute, moins je l'aimeThe more I listen, the less I like it
Plus je fais de l'exercice, plus j'en ai envie  The more I exercise, the more I want to
Plus tu es beau, plus la vie est facile.The more beautiful you are, the easier life is
Plus nous sommes généreux, plus les gens nous le rendront.The more generous we are, the more people will give back to us.
Plus je regarde la télévision, plus je la détesteThe more I watch television, the more I hate it.
I'll be right with you...