Learn Hardcore Swedish: Ju mer grönsaker du äter, desto bättre mår du. - The more vegetables you eat, the better you feel.

Ju
- comparative + clause, desto
  - comparative + main clause. Example: Ju fortare du springer, desto tröttare blir du. Both halves must use a comparative form.

Why is there a comma in the sentence?

The ju-part is an initial adverbial clause. Swedish normally puts a comma before the main clause in this pattern: Ju …, desto …. It aids readability and is standard in writing.

Why is it mår du (verb before subject) in the second half?

Main-clause V2 rule: in a main clause, the finite verb goes in second position. Desto bättre sits first, so the verb mår comes second, then the subject du.

Why is it du äter (subject before verb) in the first half?

Inside the ju-clause, word order is like a subordinate clause: subject before verb. Hence du äter, not äter du (which would look like a question).

Can I swap the two halves?

Yes, but it’s less common: Desto bättre mår du, ju fler/mer grönsaker du äter. Keep the comma. Most often the ju-part comes first.

Should it be fler grönsaker instead of mer grönsaker?

Normative rule: use fler with countable plural nouns → fler grönsaker.
Real usage: many natives also say mer grönsaker, and it’s widely accepted in speech and informal writing. As a learner, fler grönsaker is the safest choice in careful or formal Swedish.

Why bättre and not mer bra?

Bättre is the irregular comparative of bra (bra → bättre → bäst). Mer bra is not idiomatic here. With må, you say mår bättre.

What exactly does må mean, and how is it used vs. känna (sig) or bli?

må
- adjective/adverb: general health/well-being. mår bra/dåligt/bättre.
känna sig: how you feel subjectively right now. känner mig trött/nervös.
bli: become. blir friskare/leda.
trivas: feel comfortable/at home. trivs i Sverige.

Do I need som after grönsaker?

It’s optional: Ju fler grönsaker som du äter … is also correct and can add clarity or a slight pause. In short, everyday clauses you often omit som: Ju fler grönsaker du äter …

Can I say ju mer du äter grönsaker?

That sounds off. Keep the quantity word right before the noun phrase: ju fler/mer grönsaker du äter. You could also drop the noun entirely: ju mer du äter, desto … (then it’s about eating in general).

Is this ju the same as the modal particle ju (“you know/obviously”)?

Same form, different function. Here ju pairs with desto in a fixed comparative pattern. The particle ju appears inside clauses to signal shared knowledge: Det är ju sant.

Do both halves have to use comparatives?

Yes. Use comparative forms on both sides: ju mer/fler … desto bättre/sämre … Not the base forms (bra) or the superlative (bäst).

How do I pronounce the tricky vowels here?

ju: rounded front vowel (like German ü).
äter: ä like the vowel in English “bet”.
grönsaker: ö like French “eu” in “bleu”; stress on grön.
mår: long å, similar to the vowel in English “more”.
bättre: short ä; the double tt signals the short vowel.

Why is grönsaker plural and indefinite?

We’re talking about vegetables in general, as a quantity. Swedish uses the bare plural for that: grönsaker (not grönsakerna). With mer/fler, you don’t use the definite form.

Where would I put negation if I want the opposite meaning?

Don’t negate the first half; switch to the “less/fewer … worse” comparatives:

Ju färre grönsaker du äter, desto sämre mår du. Avoid things like Ju fler grönsaker du inte äter …—that’s awkward.

Is it necessary to repeat du in both halves?

Yes. Each clause needs its own subject, and Swedish doesn’t drop subject pronouns. You can also generalize with man: Ju fler grönsaker man äter, desto bättre mår man.

Is mera acceptable instead of mer?

Yes. Mera is a slightly older/colloquial variant of mer. Both are correct: ju mera/mer grönsaker …