How to use 越…越
Subject + 越 + predicate 1 + 越 + predicate 2; subject 1 + 越…，subject 2 + 越…
越…越 connects changes in two quantities, activities, or qualities. As the first increases or develops, the second changes correspondingly. With one subject, the sentence can describe a person's growing reaction or improving performance. With two subjects, each clause can name a different participant, making the relationship between their changing behavior explicit. The connection is more specific than simply becoming increasingly different over time.
Place 越 before each relevant predicate, with subjects before their respective 越 when stated. A negative predicate in the second part can express a decreasing likelihood or degree. Do not add a separate 很 as though each part were an ordinary standalone description. The paired construction supplies the comparative relationship itself.
Examples with pinyin and English
我们越想越生气。
The more we think about it, the angrier we get.
我越看越喜欢。
The more I look at it, the more I like it.
他越跑越快。
He ran faster and faster. / The more he ran, the faster he got.
雨越下越大。
The rain got heavier and heavier. / The more it rained, the heavier it got.
What to remember
- Put 越 before both linked predicates.
- Name separate subjects when the participants differ.
- Use a negative predicate for a the-more…the-less relationship.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
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