Ju tidigare vi börjar, desto tidigare slutar vi.

The earlier we start, the earlier we finish.

Breakdown of Ju tidigare vi börjar, desto tidigare slutar vi.

• vi: we
• börja: to start
• ju tidigare: the earlier
• desto tidigare: the earlier
• sluta: to finish

Questions & Answers about Ju tidigare vi börjar, desto tidigare slutar vi.

What construction is this, and what does it express?

It’s the Swedish correlative comparative pattern ju … desto …, which means “the X‑er …, the Y‑er …” (e.g., “the sooner …, the sooner …”). Structure:

• ju + comparative + subject + verb, then
• desto + comparative + (finite) verb + subject (V2 word order in the main clause).

Examples: Ju mer du läser, desto bättre skriver du. • Ju längre vi väntar, desto svårare blir det.

Why is it vi börjar but slutar vi?

• The ju‑clause behaves like a subordinate clause, so it uses normal subordinate word order: subject before the finite verb → vi börjar.
• The desto‑clause is a main clause that begins with an adverbial (desto tidigare). Swedish main clauses are V2, so the finite verb comes second → slutar comes before the subject: slutar vi.

Do I need the comma after the first clause?

Yes. In this pattern you normally write a comma between the ju‑clause and the desto‑clause: Ju …, desto …. In very short, elliptical sayings like Ju förr desto bättre, the comma is often omitted.

Can I swap the halves or start with desto?

Keep the standard order: ju …, desto …. Starting a full sentence with desto and then adding a ju‑clause is uncommon and can sound off. You will see elliptical forms like Desto bättre!, and you may also encounter Desto fler vi blir, desto roligare blir det in contemporary usage, but ju … desto … is the safest and most widely accepted template.

Could I say ju … ju … instead of ju … desto …?

That exists in older/dialectal style but is not standard today. Use ju … desto … in modern Swedish.

What form is tidigare, and why not tidigt or tidigast?

• tidig = early (positive)
• tidigt = early (adverb, positive)
• tidigare = earlier/sooner (comparative) ← the form you need here
• tidigast = earliest (superlative)

You need the comparative because you’re expressing a graded relationship (“the earlier …, the earlier …”).

Is tidigare an adjective or an adverb here?

It functions adverbially (“earlier/sooner” in time). Swedish often uses the same comparative form for both adjectives and adverbs; context decides the role.

Why not say mer tidig for “more early”?

Comparatives of most common adjectives take the suffix ‑are, not mer. So it’s tidigare, not mer tidig. You use mer mainly with longer adjectives or those that don’t form comparatives with ‑are.

Where would I put negation (inte) in this pattern?

• In the ju‑clause (a subordinate clause), place inte after the subject: Ju tidigare vi inte kommer … (though that meaning is odd).
• In the desto‑clause (a main clause with fronted adverbial), V2 still applies, so put inte after the finite verb: … desto tidigare kommer inte vi. More natural is to negate the predicate: … desto senare kommer vi or rephrase to avoid awkward negation.

Do both halves have to use the same comparative word?

No. You can mix comparatives to show different kinds of increase/decrease:

• Ju tidigare vi börjar, desto snabbare blir vi klara.
• Ju mer du tränar, desto mindre blir du nervös.

Can I drop the second vi?

No. Swedish doesn’t normally drop subject pronouns. Keep vi: … desto tidigare slutar vi.

Can I use startar instead of börjar?

Often yes, but börjar is the neutral, most idiomatic choice for people starting an activity. startar is fine with machines, events, or more technical contexts; it also works with people but can sound a bit more “mechanical” or formal in some contexts.

Is slutar the best choice for “finish,” or should I say blir klara or avslutar?

• sluta = stop/finish (intransitive): Vi slutar ≈ “We finish/stop (working).”
• bli klar(a) = become finished/done: Vi blir klara is very natural here.
• avsluta = finish/bring to an end (transitive): Vi avslutar mötet (“We finish the meeting”). All three are correct, but with no object, slutar or blir klara are the most idiomatic.

Do I ever add som after ju + comparative?

Not in this sentence. You add som when the comparative quantifies an (often implicit) noun, especially with fler/färre:

• Ju fler som kommer, desto roligare blir det. With tidigare, there’s no noun being quantified, so no som.