Direction: Look at the underlined part of each sentence. Below each sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of them, a), b) or c), is better than the underlined part, indicate your response on the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter a), b) or c). If none of the substitutions improve the sentence, indicate d) as your response on the Answer Sheet. Thus a ‘No improvement’ response will be signified by the letter d). The more they earn, more they spend .
The more they earn, the more they spend
Analyzing the Sentence Structure for Improvement
The question asks us to examine the underlined part of the sentence, "The more they earn, more they spend.", and choose the best substitution from the given options or indicate that no improvement is needed.
The original sentence is:
"The more they earn, more they spend."
This sentence attempts to express a proportional relationship: as earning increases, spending also increases. This type of construction in English uses a specific grammatical structure involving comparative forms.
Understanding the "The More... The More" Structure
The standard structure used to show that something increases or decreases in proportion to something else is "The + comparative adjective/adverb + clause, the + comparative adjective/adverb + clause."
Examples:
- The higher you climb, the colder it gets.
- The faster you finish, the sooner you can rest.
- The less you worry, the happier you will be.
In this structure, 'The' acts like a demonstrative adverb modifying the comparative, indicating 'by how much'. Both parts of the structure require 'the' followed by the comparative.
Evaluating the Original Sentence
The original sentence is "The more they earn, more they spend."
It uses "The more they earn" correctly for the first part. However, the second part is "more they spend", which is missing the necessary article "the" before "more". Therefore, the original sentence is grammatically incorrect and requires improvement.
Examining the Options for Sentence Improvement
Let's look at the provided substitution options:
- More they earn, more they spend
- More they earn, the more they spend
- The more they earn, the more they spend
- No improvement
We will analyze each option based on the correct "the + comparative, the + comparative" structure:
- Option 1: More they earn, more they spend
This option is missing "the" before both "more they earn" and "more they spend". This does not follow the required structure. - Option 2: More they earn, the more they spend
This option is missing "the" before "more they earn" in the first part, although it correctly uses "the more they spend" in the second part. It does not follow the required structure for both parts. - Option 3: The more they earn, the more they spend
This option uses "The more they earn" for the first part and "the more they spend" for the second part. This perfectly matches the correct "the + comparative, the comparative" structure used to show proportional change. - Option 4: No improvement
As we established that the original sentence "The more they earn, more they spend." is grammatically incorrect due to the missing "the" in the second part, this option is not correct. Improvement is needed.
Conclusion on Sentence Improvement
Comparing the options, only option 3, "The more they earn, the more they spend", correctly applies the grammatical rule for expressing a proportional relationship using the "the + comparative, the + comparative" structure.
Therefore, the best substitution to improve the sentence is "The more they earn, the more they spend".
| Sentence Part | Original | Option 1 | Option 2 | Option 3 | Correct Structure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Clause | The more they earn | More they earn | More they earn | The more they earn | The more they earn |
| Second Clause | more they spend | more they spend | the more they spend | the more they spend | the more they spend |
| Correctness | Incorrect (missing 'the' in 2nd clause) | Incorrect (missing 'the' in both clauses) | Incorrect (missing 'the' in 1st clause) | Correct | Correct |
Revision Table: Comparative Structures
| Structure | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative Adjective/Adverb (-er, more) | Comparing two things | He is taller than his brother. She speaks more fluently now. |
| Superlative Adjective/Adverb (-est, most) | Comparing three or more things (best/worst) | He is the tallest in the class. She performed the most brilliantly. |
| The + Comparative, The + Comparative | Showing proportional change between two things | The harder you work, the luckier you get. The less you eat, the more weight you lose. |
Additional Information: Adverbial Clauses of Proportion
The structure "the + comparative, the + comparative" functions as an adverbial clause indicating proportion. The first part, "The more they earn," acts as an adverbial clause modifying the second part, "the more they spend," showing how the spending increases as the earning increases.
These clauses are often separated by a comma. The verb can sometimes be omitted if it is clear from the context (e.g., The more, the merrier - 'the more people there are, the merrier it is'). However, in standard sentences like the one in the question, the full clause with subject and verb is typically used.
Understanding these specific comparative structures is crucial for accurate and fluent English usage, especially when expressing relationships of proportion or degree.
Similar Questions
Directions : Each item in this section consists of a sentence with an underlined word followed by four words or group of words. Select the option that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word/words and mark your response in your Answer Sheet accordingly.
The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert throughout the year, shifting from one oasis to another.
In this section, look at underlined part of each sentence. There are three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of them (a), (b) or (c) is better than the underlined part, indicate your response on the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter (a), (b), or (c). If none of the substitutions improves the sentence, indicate (d) as your response on the Answer Sheet. Thus a 'No improvement' response will be signified by the letter (D).
He ought not to tell me your secret, but he did.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
Although India is still by far a poor country, it can become rich if its natural and human resources are fully utilized.
In the question below, a part of the sentence has been underlined. Below are given the alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. If the sentence needs no improvement, choose ‘No Improvement’ as your answer.
But in all these cases conversion from one scale to another is easy because scales have well-formulated .
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
Five years ago on this date, I am sitting in a small Japanese car, driving across Poland towards Berlin.
In the question below, a part of the sentence has been underlined. Below are given the alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. If the sentence needs no improvement, choose ‘No Improvement’ as your answer.
The old man felled some trees in the garden with hardly no effort at all.
In the question below, a part of the sentence has been underlined. Below are given the alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. If the sentence needs no improvement, choose ‘No Improvement’ as your answer.
She says she's already paid me back, but I can't remember, so I'll have to take her word .
In the question below, a part of the sentence has been underlined. Below are given the alternatives to the underlined part which may improve the sentence. Choose the correct alternative. If the sentence needs no improvement, choose ‘No Improvement’ as your answer.
The workers are hell-bent at getting what is due to them.
Direction: Look at the underlined part of each sentence. Below each sentence is given three possible substitutions for the underlined part. If one of them, a), b) or c), is better than the underlined part, indicate your response on the Answer Sheet against the corresponding letter a), b) or c). If none of the substitutions improve the sentence, indicate d) as your response on the Answer Sheet. Thus a ‘No improvement’ response will be signified by the letter d).
You are warned against committing the same mistake again.
In the following question, out of the four alternatives, select the alternative which will improve the underlined part of the sentence. In case no improvement is needed, select “No improvement”.
While we would like that all Indian children to go to school, we need to ponder why they do not.
Important Questions from Phrase Replacement
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, No substitution required.
Not knowing the language and having no acquaintances in the city, he found it hard getting work.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.
We had been almost halfway there when the left rear tyre blew out
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select option No substitution required.
The man spent a lot because he had so large amount of money.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No improvement’.
In the past, promises have been made, kept, and broken, and they are being make yet again.
Select the most appropriate option to substitute the underlined segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select ‘No improvement’.
September is one of the busiest months of the year, with a range of different tasks at hand
