Is the inversion of 'the + comparative clauses' optional or obligatory?

Question

The + comparative phrases usually moves themselves to the beginning in their clauses as in:

a. The more you have, the more you want.

However, I learned that the inversion might not happen when they are subordinated.

So, I want to know whether this inversion must happen or it is just optional in the first place.

?b. You have the more, you want the more.

?c. You have the more, the more you want.

?d. The more you have, you want the more.

Do you think all b, c, d are grammatically correct and are freely interchangable in speech or writing? Please let me know. Thank you

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Justin ParkDo you think all b, c, d are grammatically correct

No. They're all wrong. The correct formula is always "the more ... the more ...". (Of course, "the more" might be expressed as "the better", "the slower", "the prettier", etc. in cases where the -er ending is used.)

Justin Park I learned that the inversion might not happen when they are subordinated.

I don't know what situations you're talking about here.

CJ

BillJ · Answer

[1] [The more you have], the more you want.

[2] You want more, [the more you have].

[1] is the fronted version, while [2] is the basic version. In both types, the bracketed subordinate clause has the comparative phrase in front position.

As I understand it, in the basic version it would be possible, though very unlikely, to have "the" in the non-fronted comparative phrase, as in "You want the more, the more you have". In my opinion, that would be ungrammatical.

Your suggested alternants are ungrammatical.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Justin Parka. The more you have, the more you want.

You do not understand that "you have" and "you want" are modifiers of "the more".

" You have the more" is completely different than "The more (stuff / things that) you have"

"You have the more." does not make sense. Here are two correct sentences:

You have more (stuff/things) than me.

or

Between the two of us, you have the more expensive car.

Here are some other examples, where the words that have been omitted are underlined in the second sentence,

In the Olympics, the more difficult the dive the higher the points it can score.
In the Olympics, the more difficult that the dive is the higher the points it can score.

Moreover, the more the participants trained, the more problems they could solve.
Moreover, the more time that the participants spent in training, the more problems that they could solve.

Is the inversion of 'the + comparative clauses' optional or obligatory?

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