English Grammar Story:
Double Comparatives
(The More... The More...)
Let's practice English comparatives and superlatives through a humorous short story about Max and his homework.
In this story, you will see double comparatives in action!
Click Here for Step-by-Step Rules, Stories and Exercises to Practice All English Tenses
What Are Double Comparatives?
Double comparatives happen when things are compared, and
both
change at the same time. This is usually done with
"the more... the more" or "the -er... the -er".
Examples:
- The more you practice, the better you get.
(If you practice a lot, you will improve a lot.) - The faster you run, the sooner you finish.
(If you run faster, you will finish earlier.) - The more you read, the smarter you become.
(If you read a lot, you become smarter.) - The harder you work, the more money you earn.
(If you work hard, you will earn more money.) - The less sugar you eat, the healthier you are.
(If you eat less sugar, you will be healthier.)
This structure shows cause and effect – when one thing increases or decreases, another changes too.
Now let's see how this looks in context!
The Homework That Flew Away
Max sits in class. The later it gets, the more nervous he feels. Mrs. Thompson looks around the room. The more she looks, the faster Max’s heart beats.
Finally, she calls his name. “Max, where is your homework?”
Max panics. The more he thinks, the harder it gets to find a good excuse.
“My dog ate it,” he says. The older he gets, the hungrier he becomes.
Mrs. Thompson raises an eyebrow. “Your dog ate your homework...”
“Yes,” Max says. The more math I do, the more he wants to eat it. Fractions are his favorite.”
The class laughs. The more they laugh, the prouder Max feels.
Mrs. Thompson shakes her head. “Alright, bring your homework tomorrow.”
The next day, Max still does not have his homework. The longer he waits, the harder it becomes to tell the truth.
Mrs. Thompson crosses her arms. “Max?”
Max clears his throat. “Well… The more I work on it, the more my sister wants to play with it. She made a paper airplane with it, and then she threw it out the window.”
Mrs. Thompson sighs. “Max, I need the truth.”
Max nods. “Okay, okay. The truth is… The stronger the wind blows, the farther my homework flies! Then a squirrel jumps on it and runs away!”
“A squirrel?” Mrs. Thompson repeats.
“Yes! The hungrier it gets, the faster it runs! And then a hawk swoops down and grabs it! The higher it flies, the smaller my homework becomes!”
The whole class laughs. The more they laugh, the more confident Max feels. Even Mrs. Thompson smiles a little.
She shakes her head, but the more she tries to stay serious, the harder it gets. She laughs. “Alright, Max. No more hawks, no more squirrels. No more flying homework. Just bring your homework tomorrow.”
Max nods.
Mrs. Thompson sighs and moves on.
But then – BAM! A squirrel jumps through the open window and
lands on her desk.
In its tiny claws? A crumpled piece of paper!
Mrs. Thompson picks it up. Her eyes are wide. “Max…”
Max gasps. “See? The more I tell the truth, the crazier it sounds!”
See also:
English
Grammar Story: Comparatives and Superlatives – The Best Pizza in Town
English Grammar Story: Comparatives and Superlatives (Adverbs) - The Most Unusual Spy
English Grammar Story: Comparatives and Superlatives (Good/Better/Best) – The Best Swimmer
English Grammar Story: Comparatives and Superlatives (Bad/Worse/Worst) - A Bad Day Gets Worse
English Grammar Story: Comparing with "Less" and "Least" - How Not to Start a Life of Crime
Comparatives and Superlatives Online Quizzes
Activity: Fill in the Blanks
Let's practice comparatives and superlatives by filling in the blanks in the copy of the story below:
Max sits in class. The _____________ (late) it gets, the _____________ (nervous) he feels. Mrs. Thompson looks around the room. The _____________ (much) she looks, the _____________ (fast) Max’s heart beats.
Finally, she calls his name. “Max, where is your homework?”
Max panics. The _____________ (much) he thinks, the _____________ (hard) it gets to find a good excuse.
“My dog ate it,” he says. The _____________ (old) he gets, the _____________ (hungry) he becomes.
Mrs. Thompson raises an eyebrow. “Your dog ate your homework...”
“Yes,” Max says. The _____________ (much) math I do, the _____________ (much) he wants to eat it. Fractions are his favorite.”
The class laughs. The _____________ (much) they laugh, the _____________ (proud) Max feels.
Mrs. Thompson shakes her head. “Alright, bring your homework tomorrow.”
The next day, Max still does not have his homework. The _____________ (long) he waits, the _____________ (hard) it becomes to tell the truth.
Mrs. Thompson crosses her arms. “Max?”
Max clears his throat. “Well… The _____________ (much) I work on it, the _____________ (much) my sister wants to play with it.” She made a paper airplane with it, and then she threw it out the window.
Mrs. Thompson sighs. “Max, I need the truth.”
Max nods. “Okay, okay. The truth is… The _____________ (strong) the wind blows, the _____________ (far) my homework flies! Then a squirrel jumps on it and runs away!”
“A squirrel?” Mrs. Thompson repeats.
“Yes! The _____________ (hungry) it gets, the _____________ (fast) it runs! And then a hawk swoops down and grabs it! The _____________ (high) it flies, the _____________ (small) my homework becomes!”
The whole class laughs. The _____________ (much) they laugh, the _____________ (confident) Max feels. Even Mrs. Thompson smiles a little.
She shakes her head, but the _____________ (much) she tries to stay serious, the _____________ (hard) it gets. She laughs. “Alright, Max. No more hawks, no more squirrels. No more flying homework. Just bring your homework tomorrow.”
Max nods.
Mrs. Thompson sighs and moves on.
But then – BAM! A squirrel jumps through the open window
and lands on her desk.
In its tiny claws? A crumpled piece of paper!
Mrs. Thompson picks it up. Her eyes are wide. “Max…”
Max gasps. “See? The _____________ (much) I tell the truth, the _____________ (crazy) it sounds!”
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