Breakdown of Je älter der Hund wird, umso gelassener ist er.
sein
to be
er
he
der Hund
the dog
alt
old
werden
to become / to get (change of state)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
je
the (in proportional comparisons)
umso
the (alternative second part)
gelassen
calm
Questions & Answers about Je älter der Hund wird, umso gelassener ist er.
Why does the verb wird go at the end of the first half, while ist comes right after umso gelassener?
The je half of the sentence acts as a subordinate clause, which pushes the conjugated verb (wird) to the very end. The umso half acts as the main clause. The entire phrase umso gelassener takes up the first position in this main clause, so the verb (ist) must immediately follow it in the second position.
The lesson teaches je ... desto, but this sentence uses umso. Is there a difference?
No, there is no difference in meaning or grammar. You can use desto and umso completely interchangeably for this type of comparison. Saying Je älter der Hund wird, desto gelassener ist er would be equally correct.
What is the base form of gelassener?
The base adjective is gelassen, which means calm, relaxed, or easygoing. To say calmer, we simply add the standard comparative -er ending to get gelassener.
Why does älter have an umlaut when the base word alt does not?
Many short, one-syllable German adjectives containing an a, o, or u add an umlaut when forming their comparative versions. Therefore, alt (old) becomes älter (older).
Why is the verb wird used here for gets?
In German, the verb werden (conjugated here as wird) expresses a change of state or a process. While English uses gets or becomes, German always uses werden to describe somebody or something aging, growing, or changing into a new state.
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