How to use the conjunction “je… desto” in German

On first glance, “je…desto” may look like any other German word you can memorize and add to your vocabulary. But “je…desto” is not just a word. To begin with, there are two words in this compound conjunction. These two words are used to compare a main clause and a subordinate clause by putting them into a proportional relationship. 

The subordinate clause with “je” usually precedes the main clause with “desto,” like so: Je schneller, desto besser (The faster, the better). In more complex examples, the “je…desto” construction changes the word order in each clause, which may take some getting used to. 

“Je…desto” also has some synonyms, such as “umso…desto” and “umso…umso.” These can be used interchangeably. If this seems like a lot to take in, don’t worry! The (je) more examples you see, the (desto) easier it will get.

• What is “je…desto”?
• The meaning of “je…desto”
• How to use “je…desto”
• The synonym “umso”

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What is ‘je…desto’?

“Je…desto” is a German compound conjunction.

Like any other conjunction, “je…desto” connects two clauses — in this case, a main clause and a subordinate clause. Unlike other conjunctions, such as “weil” (because) and “obwohl” (although), “je…desto” consists of two words. “Je” introduces the subordinate clause, while “desto” introduces the main clause. 

Let’s see some examples of how “je…desto” works:

• Je schneller, desto besser. (The faster, the better.)
• Je länger ich darüber nachdenke, desto weniger verstehe ich. (The more I think about it, the less I understand.)
• Je mehr Geld ich habe, desto mehr gebe ich aus. (The more money I have, the more I spend.)

The meaning of ‘je…desto’

The compound conjunction “je…desto” compares the statements of the main and subordinate clauses in terms of their proportional relationship to each other. 

The measure of the things or actions in the subordinate clause determines or conditions the measure of the things or actions in the main clause. 

Again, examples with “je…desto” help to clarify what this looks like in practice:

• Je öfter ich übe, desto besser werde ich. (The more I practice, the better I get.)
• Je besser ich werde, desto mehr Spaß macht es mir. (The better I get, the more I enjoy it.)
• Je mehr Spaß es mir macht, desto öfter übe ich. (The more I enjoy it, the more I practice.)

Note how the comparative function of the conjunction is expressed in the comparative of adjectives and adverbs, which are found in both the subordinate clause and the main clause. 

The literal English meaning of “je…desto”  is ”the…the,” though this can only be understood in context. The usage is almost the same in both languages, except for the word order.

How to use ‘je…desto’

There are two considerations to keep in mind when using “je…desto” in German:

1. the order of the main and subordinate clauses
2. the word order in the main and in the subordinate clause

You will also need to know how to form the comparative. As an intermediate learner, you will have done this before. If not, this is a good opportunity to take the next step in your language-learning journey.

1. The order of the main and subordinate clauses

Subordinate clauses predominantly follow main clauses, but in most cases, you can also start with the subordinate clause. In the case of “je…desto”, the subordinate clause with “je” almost always precedes the main clause with “desto.” 

In written language alone, the main clause is occasionally found before the subordinate clause. This is because the statement of the subordinate clause justifies or conditions the statement of the main clause. For example:

• Je mehr ich darüber weiß, desto weniger will ich eigentlich darüber wissen. (The more I know about it, the less I actually want to know.)

If the subordinate clause and the main clause change places, things get confusing. Consider how this might read in English:

• The less I actually want to know, the more I know about it.

Remember the comma between the main and subordinate clauses!

2. The word order in the main and in the subordinate clause

When using “je…desto,” the subordinate clause begins with “je” and the main clause begins with “desto.” Each sentence requires a comparative after the conjunction and can be constructed as follows:

Je + comparative [+ subjective and/or verb], desto + comparative [(+ verb) + noun] 

• Je schneller, desto besser. (The faster, the better.)
• Je schöner das Wetter (ist), desto besser (ist) der Tag. (The nicer the weather, the better the day.)
• Je härter ich arbeite, desto fester schlafe ich. (The harder I work, the deeper I sleep.)

The synonym ‘umso’

Instead of “je…desto,” you can also use “je…umso” or even “umso…umso.” The meaning of “je…desto” and “je…umso” or “umso…umso” is the same. “Umso” is a synonym of “desto”:

• Je schneller, desto besser. (The faster, the better.)
• Je schneller, umso besser.
• Umso schneller, umso besser.

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‘Je…desto’ in German

“Je…desto” is a compound conjunction, with “je” introducing the subordinate clause and “desto” introducing the main clause. “Je…desto” and its synonyms “je…umso” and “umso…umso” are used to compare both clauses in terms of their proportional relationship to each other. The word order in long sentences can be confusing at first, but as we say in German, Je mehr du übst, desto besser wirst du! (The more you practice, the better you get!).

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