Choose the most appropriate option to fill in the blank in the given sentence:
The more contented we are with what we have ____________ we will be.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → the happier
The + comparative ..., the + comparative:
- The pattern the + comparative ..., the + comparative ... shows that two things change together: as one grows, the other grows too.
- Both halves need the and a comparative form (-er or more).
- This sentence: Clue words: "The more contented"; the first half has "the" + comparative, so the second half needs the happier.
- Complete sentence: The more contented we are with what we have the happier we will be.
Example: The harder you work, the better your results will be.
Why the Other Options are Incorrect?
Option 1: happy — Incorrect. It is the positive degree and has no "the"; the pattern needs "the" + comparative.
Option 2: most happy — Incorrect. It is a superlative form without "the"; the pattern needs the comparative.
Option 4: the happiest — Incorrect. It is a superlative, used for the highest degree among three or more; the pattern of two things growing together needs the comparative.
Contrast: the pattern needs "the" + comparative in both halves ("The more contented ..., the happier ..."), not the positive (happy) or a superlative (most happy, the happiest).