desto
the
Es wird benutzt, um zu zeigen, dass eine Sache stärker wird, wenn sich eine andere Sache verändert, oft zusammen mit einem vergleichenden Ausdruck.
The German word "desto" is a conjunction that is often used in comparative sentences to mean "the" in phrases like "the more... the better" (je mehr... desto besser). It is part of a fixed construct and does not break into smaller meaningful parts Similar words and constructs in German that you might also encounter include "je" (often used in conjunction with "desto") and "umso" (which can also be used in comparative sentences).
Example of usage:
- "Je schneller, desto besser" translates to "The faster, the better."
Comparisons:
- "je...umso" (This is another comparative structure, synonymous with "je...desto", such as "je früher, umso besser" which also means "the earlier, the better").
While "desto" and "umso" both serve the same function in comparative constructions, "desto" is typically paired with "je" within the same clause, whereas "umso" can be used more flexibly.
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Examples
Je schneller wir arbeiten, desto früher sind wir fertig.adverb
The faster we work, the sooner we are finished.
Je mehr sie lernt, desto schlauer wird sie.adverb
The more she learns, the smarter she becomes.
Je weniger Lärm es gab, desto besser konnten wir uns konzentrieren.adverb
The less noise there was, the better we could concentrate.
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