JLPT N3 grammar

〜ば〜ほどmeaning and usage

Meaning

The more A, the more C

This point is also listed at N2.

How to form it

  • verb (ba-form)verb (dictionary form)ほど
  • い-adjective stem (without い)ければい-adjectiveほど
  • な-adjective (stem)ならな-adjective (stem)なほど
  • nounであればあるほど

How it is used

'The more A, the more B': as one thing increases, the other changes with it. The same word appears twice, first in the ば-form, then in the dictionary form. The ば part can be dropped, leaving just 「〜ほど」.

Examples

  1. 外国語はしゃべればしゃべるほど上手になる。

    The more you speak a foreign language, the better you will become.

  2. この本は、読めば読むほどおもしろくなる。

    The more you read this book, the more interesting it gets.

  3. 部屋は、駅に近ければ近いほど家賃が高い。

    The closer an apartment is to the station, the higher the rent.