Continuous change (allt + comparative)

Continuous Change with "allt"

When discussing trends, like shifts in the housing market, you often need to describe progressive, continuous change. In English, we express this by saying things are getting "increasingly expensive" or "more and more expensive."

In Swedish, this is done by placing the word allt immediately before a comparative adjective.

increasingly
allt
The homes in the city are becoming increasingly expensive.
Bostäderna i staden blir allt dyrare.

You can use this pattern with any comparative adjective to describe a developing situation, such as the impact of interest rates or economic crises.

The interest rate is higher now, therefore the crisis is becoming increasingly difficult.
Räntan är högre nu, därför blir krisen allt svårare.

You can also combine this structure with the dummy subject det to describe broad societal trends, such as urbanization and people moving away from the countryside.

It is increasingly common to move from the countryside.
Det är allt vanligare att flytta från landsbygden.

Longer Adjectives and "allt mer"

Some longer adjectives and participles do not use the -are ending for their comparative form, but instead use the word mer (more). To express continuous change with these adjectives, you simply use allt mer.

A highly relevant word when discussing urbanization and the housing market is trångbodd (overcrowded).

overcrowded
trångbodd
The family in that suburb is becoming increasingly overcrowded.
Familjen i den där förorten blir allt mer trångbodd.

Increasing Numbers with "allt fler"

If you want to say that "more and more" people or things are doing something, use allt fler. Fler is the comparative form of många (many) and is used for countable nouns like residents or apartments.

More and more residents choose the suburb because it is cheaper.
Allt fler invånare väljer förorten eftersom den är billigare.
The inhabitants are becoming increasingly numerous and the home is getting increasingly expensive.
Invånarna blir allt fler och bostaden blir allt dyrare.