In English grammar, the construction of comparative sentences can often confuse learners, especially when dealing with expressions like ‘the more’ and ‘the less.’ In this article, we will explain the error in the sentence ‘The higher they climbed, the more they excited,’ and why the correct version is ‘The higher they climbed, the more excited they became.’
Understanding Comparative Sentences
Comparative sentences are used to show a relationship between two different things or actions. In English, these sentences often use the structure ‘the more… the more…’ to indicate that as one thing increases, so does another.
The Error: ‘The More They Excited’
The sentence ‘The higher they climbed, the more they excited’ contains an error in the use of the verb. ‘Excited’ is an adjective, not a verb. In the context of the sentence, we need to describe how they felt as they climbed higher. Therefore, we need a verb to describe the change in their emotional state.
The Correct Structure: ‘The More Excited They Became’
The correct sentence is ‘The higher they climbed, the more excited they became.’ In this structure, ‘became’ is the correct verb that describes the change in their emotional state. ‘Excited’ functions as an adjective, describing their feelings as they climbed higher.
Why ‘Became’ is Necessary
The verb ‘became’ is needed because ‘excited’ is not a verb; it is an adjective that describes a state of being. When we want to indicate that someone changed from one state to another, we use the verb ‘become’ or ‘became’ to show that change. For example, ‘She became happy,’ ‘They became excited,’ etc.
Conclusion
In summary, the sentence ‘The higher they climbed, the more excited they became’ is correct because it properly uses the verb ‘became’ to show a change in the state of excitement. The mistake in ‘The more they excited’ arises from using ‘excited’ as a verb, which is incorrect in this context. Understanding this distinction will help you avoid similar mistakes in the future and improve your English grammar.
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