Sophisticated Proportion: -ㄹ/을수록 (The More... The More)

This grammar attaches directly to the stem of a verb or adjective. It creates a condition where the degree of one thing changes another. Imagine you are at a spicy food challenge. The more 떡볶이 you eat, the more water you drink. The first part is the cause, and the second part is the effect. You do not need two separate sentences to explain this. Just stick ㄹ수록 to your first verb and keep going. It acts as a connector that implies a steady increase. It works perfectly with words like "tasty," "busy," or "expensive." It even works when things get worse or decrease over time. The logic is simple: as X progresses, Y follows that progress. It is one of the most useful patterns for expressing changes. You will feel a huge boost in your speaking fluency immediately.

1. 1Find the base form of your verb or adjective stem.
2. 2Drop the 다 to see if there is a bottom consonant.
3. 3If there is no bottom consonant, add ㄹ수록 to the stem.
4. 4For example, 가다 (to go) becomes 갈수록 in your sentence.
5. 5If there is a bottom consonant, add 을수록 to the stem.
6. 6For example, 먹다 (to eat) becomes 먹을수록 for your grammar.
7. 7If the stem ends in ㄹ, just add 수록 alone.
8. 8For example, 만들다 (to make) becomes 만들수록 very simply.
9. 9You do not need to worry about the past tense here.
10. 10Always use the present tense stem for this specific grammar point.
11. 11The second part of the sentence can have any ending.
12. 12You can use polite, casual, or formal endings at the end.

Use this when describing a trend or a growing feeling. It is great for talking about your favorite hobbies or habits. For example, "The more I study Korean, the more fun it is." It is perfect for food reviews at a fancy restaurant. "The more I chew this, the more delicious it tastes." Use it when asking for advice or giving life tips. "The more you practice, the better your pronunciation will become." It works well for job interviews to show your dedication. "The more I work, the more I learn about this industry." You can even use it for simple daily observations. "The more people there are, the noisier the room gets." It makes you sound very logical and observant to others. Think of it as your primary tool for describing growth.

Do not use this for one-time events or fixed facts. It requires a sense of gradual change or continuous progression. You cannot use it for things that happen instantly and stop. For example, do not say "The more I arrive, the more I sit." That sentence does not make any logical sense in Korean. It is not for simple "if/then" statements that lack a scale. If the situation is static, this grammar will feel very awkward. Avoid using it with verbs that do not allow for degrees. For example, you cannot really "the more die" or "the more win." Those are binary events that happen or they do not happen. Keep it for things that can grow, shrink, or intensify. Also, avoid using it when you want to be extremely brief. Use a simple 면 (if) for quick, non-proportional conditions instead.

Many learners forget the ㄹ or 을 and just say 수록. This is like wearing only one shoe to a party. You must check the bottom consonant of the stem every time. Another mistake is using the past tense on the first verb. Never say 갔을수록 when you mean "the more I went." Keep the first part in the simple present tense form. Some people also forget to add a second verb or adjective. This grammar needs a partner to complete the logical thought. You cannot just say "the more I eat" and then stop. Native speakers will wait for you to finish your sentence! Also, watch out for the ㄹ irregular verbs like 만들다. Do not say 만들를수록 because that is a total tongue twister. Just keep it simple and follow the specific ㄹ rules.

You might know the grammar -면, which simply means "if." -면 is like a light switch; it is either on or off. But -ㄹ수록 is like a dimmer switch that turns slowly. Use -면 for a single condition with a single result. Use -ㄹ수록 when the result keeps changing as the condition grows. Sometimes people combine them into -면 ... -ㄹ수록 for extra emphasis. For example, 하면 할수록 means "the more you do it, the more..." This double version is very common but means the same thing. It just adds a little more flavor and rhythm to speech. Think of -면 as the basic version and -ㄹ수록 as the advanced version. One sets a rule, while the other describes a living process. Choose -ㄹ수록 when you want to show a clear progression.