Breakdown of Jo flere forslag vi får, jo enklere blir valget.
vi
we
bli
to become
få
to get
flere
more
forslaget
the suggestion
jo ... jo
the more ... the ...
enklere
easier
valget
the choice
Questions & Answers about Jo flere forslag vi får, jo enklere blir valget.
What does the “jo … jo …” structure do? Is it the same as English “the more …, the more …”?
Yes. It’s the Norwegian correlative comparative: Jo + comparative …, jo + comparative …. It matches English “the + comparative …, the + comparative …”: cause in the first half, result in the second.
What exactly does the word “jo” mean here?
Here, jo is a comparative particle that pairs the two halves. It doesn’t translate literally by itself; it signals “the … (X)er …, the … (Y)er …”. Don’t confuse it with the separate particle jo that means “after all/indeed/come on” in other contexts.
Why is there a comma in the sentence?
Because you’re pairing two clauses in the correlative construction. Standard writing separates them with a comma: Jo …, jo ….
Why is the word order “vi får” in the first half but “blir valget” in the second?
- The first half behaves like a subordinate clause, so you get normal subject–verb order: vi får.
- The second half is a main clause with a fronted element (jo enklere). Norwegian main clauses are verb‑second, so the finite verb comes next: blir valget (verb before subject).
Can I say “jo enklere valget blir” instead of “jo enklere blir valget”?
As the second half (after the comma), you should use inversion: jo enklere blir valget.
However, if that clause comes first (before the comma), it uses subordinate word order: Jo enklere valget blir, jo …
Why is it “blir” (becomes) and not “er” (is)?
Why is it “flere” and not “mer”?
- flere = “more” with countable plural nouns (e.g., forslag = suggestions).
- mer = “more” with uncountable/mass nouns (e.g., tid, vann).
Examples: - Jo flere bøker jeg leser …
- Jo mer tid vi har …
Why doesn’t “forslag” have a plural ending here?
Why is it “valget” (the choice) and not just “valg”?
You’re referring to the specific decision at hand, so the definite form valget is natural. Plain valg (indefinite) would sound like “a choice” in general rather than “the decision.”
Could I avoid repeating the noun and just say “det”?
Is “får” necessary? Could I use “har”?
Can I use “desto” or “dess” instead of the second “jo”?
How would I express the opposite (fewer/less … harder)?
Use the comparative of “few” and “little”:
What’s the pronunciation of the trickier words?
Can I generalize the subject with “man”?
What forms are “flere” and “enklere”?
- flere: comparative of the quantifier mange (many → more).
- enklere: comparative of the adjective enkel (simple → simpler → simplest: enkel – enklere – enklest).
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