Proportional change: -면 -ㄹ/을수록

This pattern is like a grammar bridge. It connects two parts of a sentence. The first part is the condition or the "increase." The second part is the resulting state. You usually repeat the same verb or adjective twice. First, you attach -(으)면. This sets the stage. Then, you attach -(으)ㄹ수록. This shows the intensification. It might seem repetitive to say the word twice. However, this repetition is key for emphasis. It creates a rhythm that shows a steady, proportional change. If the action grows, the result grows too. It is like watching a plant grow taller as you water it. One thing directly feeds into the other.

1. 1First, find the verb or adjective stem.
2. 2Check if the stem ends in a vowel or a consonant.
3. 3For the -(으)면 part:
4. 4Vowel or ㄹ ending: Add -면 (e.g., 가다 → 가면).
5. 5Consonant ending: Add -으면 (e.g., 먹다 → 먹으면).
6. 6For the -(으)ㄹ수록 part:
7. 7Vowel ending: Add -ㄹ수록 (e.g., 가다 → 갈수록).
8. 8ㄹ ending: Just add 수록 (e.g., 만들다 → 만들수록).
9. 9Consonant ending: Add -을수록 (e.g., 먹다 → 먹을수록).
10. 10Put them together: 먹으면 먹을수록 (the more you eat...).
11. 11Note: You can actually drop the first -(으)면 part. Many Koreans just say 먹을수록 to save time. We all love a good shortcut, right?

Use this when describing personal growth or learning. "The more I study Korean, the more fun it is." It is also great for describing preferences. "The cheaper the food, the better." You will hear this a lot when people talk about time. "The sooner, the better" is a classic one. It works well in job interviews too. You can say your passion grows as you work. Use it when you want to show a clear connection. It helps explain why something is changing. It is useful for describing physical sensations as well. Think about getting tired as you walk longer. It captures that feeling of a sliding scale perfectly.

Do not use this for one-time events. It requires a sense of continuous change or repetition. You cannot use it to describe a simple sequence. For example, "I went home and then ate" doesn't work. It also doesn't fit unrelated facts. "The more I sleep, the more it rains" makes no sense. Unless you are a weather wizard, of course! Avoid using it with verbs that don't allow for degrees. If something is either "on" or "off," this rule won't fit. It needs a spectrum to work on. Also, be careful with tense. The pattern itself doesn't carry the final tense. The tense comes at the very end of the sentence.

One big mistake is mixing up the consonants. Beginners often forget the ㄹ in -(으)ㄹ수록. Another mistake is adding tense to the middle. Never say 공부했으면 공부할수록. Keep the middle parts in their base form. Only the final verb in the sentence shows the tense. Some people also forget that ㄹ stems are special. For 살다, it is 살면 살수록, not 살으면 살을수록. That extra 으 is like an uninvited guest. Just leave it out! Also, make sure you don't over-complicate the structure. If you feel like your tongue is knotting, try the short version. Just use the -ㄹ수록 part. It is much easier to manage.

You might know -면서, which means "while." That is for two actions happening at the same time. But they are not necessarily increasing together. -면 -ㄹ수록 is specifically about proportionality. It’s about the intensity of the relationship. Then there is -(으)니까. That just shows a simple cause and effect. "Since I ate, I am full." It doesn't show a gradual change. Think of -(으)니까 as a single step. Think of -면 -ㄹ수록 as a staircase. Every step you take leads you higher. One is a flat result, the other is a slope. Understanding this difference will help you choose the right tool.