HSK 3
越...越... (yuè...yuè...) in Chinese
The 越...越... pattern links two changes: as the first degree or situation increases, the second changes with it. 越 appears before each predicate, and the two parts may share a subject or use different subjects. It expresses correlation, not necessarily a proven cause, and differs from 越来越 followed by one predicate.
STRUCTURE
越 + A, 越 + B (linked changes)
When to use 越…越… — and when not
Use it when
- To connect two changing degrees: 天气越冷，我穿得越多。
- When two clauses have different subjects: 你练习得越多，发音越自然。
- With one shared subject and two changing predicates: 这本书我越看越喜欢。
Don't use it when
- For a single continuing change; use 越来越 + adjective or verb phrase, as in 天气越来越冷。
- Do not put 越 before the subject or the noun whose predicate is changing.
- Do not claim that the first change scientifically causes the second; the pattern itself states correlation.
Right vs. wrong
越天气冷，我穿得越多。
天气越冷，我穿得越多。
The first 越 is placed before the subject instead of its predicate
天气 is the subject of the first part. Put 越 directly before the changing predicate 冷, not before the subject.
你越练习，发音自然越。
你练习得越多，发音越自然。
The second 越 is placed after the predicate it modifies
越 must precede the changing predicate. In the second part, the correct order is 发音 + 越 + 自然.
Examples
天气越冷，我穿得越多。
Tiānqì yuè lěng, wǒ chuān de yuè duō.
The colder the weather gets, the more I wear.
你练习得越多，发音越自然。
Nǐ liànxí de yuè duō, fāyīn yuè zìrán.
The more you practice, the more natural your pronunciation becomes.
这本书我越看越喜欢。
Zhè běn shū wǒ yuè kàn yuè xǐhuan.
The more I read this book, the more I like it.
Common mistakes
越天气冷，我穿得越多。
Yuè tiānqì lěng, wǒ chuān de yuè duō.
Put the first 越 before 冷: 天气越冷，我穿得越多。
你越练习，发音自然越。
Nǐ yuè liànxí, fāyīn zìrán yuè.
Put the second 越 before 自然: 发音越自然。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 越…越… sentence and check that grammar point first.
越...越... (yuè...yuè...) FAQ
What is the difference between 越...越... and 越来越?
越...越... links two changing quantities or states: the more A changes, the more B changes. 越来越 normally describes one continuing trend, such as 天气越来越冷。
Can the two parts of 越...越... have different subjects?
Yes. In 你练习得越多，发音越自然, 你 is the subject of the first part and 发音 is the subject of the second. Each 越 still goes before the predicate it modifies.