The more, the better: όσο πιο, τόσο πιο, ο πιο, -τατος
"The more… the more…" comes as a pair: όσο … τόσο. Όσο πιο πολύ προπονείσαι, τόσο πιο γρήγορα τρέχεις. Both halves are obligatory, and the order is fixed. For example: “Όσο πιο πολύ προπονείσαι, τόσο πιο γρήγορα τρέχεις” — The more you train, the faster you run. A rule from the Greek course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
"The more… the more…" comes as a pair: όσο (óso) … τόσο (tóso). Όσο πιο πολύ προπονείσαι (óso pio polí proponíse), τόσο πιο γρήγορα τρέχεις (tóso pio grígora trékhis). Both halves are obligatory, and the order is fixed.
Between όσο or τόσο and the word you usually slip πιο (pio): όσο πιο νωρίς (óso pio norís), τόσο πιο καλά (tóso pio kalá). With an irregular word πιο is not needed, since the shape already compares: τόσο καλύτερα νιώθω (tóso kalítera niótho).
The comparing shape itself comes two ways: πιο δυνατός (pio dinatós) and δυνατότερος. The second is the more bookish. Whoever you compare with comes in with από (apó): πιο δυνατός από τον αδερφό του.
"The strongest" is that same shape with the article in front: ο πιο δυνατός παίκτης (o pio dinatós péktis), ο δυνατότερος παίκτης. The article is the whole difference.
Table
| the degree | in Greek | what it means |
|---|---|---|
| comparative | πιο δυνατός, δυνατότερος | stronger |
| the more ... the more | όσο πιο ... τόσο πιο ... | the bigger, the bigger |
| superlative | ο πιο δυνατός, ο δυνατότερος | the strongest |
| absolute | πάρα πολύ δυνατός | very strong |
| absolute in -τατος | δυνατότατος | strong in the extreme, not "the" strongest |
| irregular | καλός, καλύτερος, ο καλύτερος | good, better, best |
By example
- Όσο πιο πολύ προπονείσαι, τόσο πιο γρήγορα τρέχειςóso pio polí proponíse, tóso pio grígora trékhisThe more you train, the faster you run
- Είναι ο πιο δυνατός παίκτης της ομάδαςíne o pio dinatós péktis tis omádasHe is the strongest player of the team
- Η παράσταση ήταν ωραιότατη, αλλά όχι η καλύτερη της χρονιάςi parástasi ítan oreótati, alá ókhi i kalíteri tis khroniásThe performance was most beautiful, but not the best of the year
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
The more, the better: how does it work in Greek?
"The more… the more…" comes as a pair: όσο … τόσο. Όσο πιο πολύ προπονείσαι, τόσο πιο γρήγορα τρέχεις. Both halves are obligatory, and the order is fixed.
What does it look like in an example sentence Greek?
“Όσο πιο πολύ προπονείσαι, τόσο πιο γρήγορα τρέχεις” (óso pio polí proponíse, tóso pio grígora trékhis) — The more you train, the faster you run. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.