Tan grande, tan guapo, igual de grande, igual de guapo are comparisons of equality. We use them to express whether two people, animals, things or actions are of the same quality or quantity. In the following Spanish lesson we will learn how to make comparisons of (in)equality with adjectives, adverbs, verbs and nouns.
Comparisons with adjectives and adverbs
To form comparisons of (in)equality with adjectives and adverbs, use the following formulas:
Tan + adjective (adverb) + como
Igual de + adjective (adverb) + que
El libro es tan bueno como la película. (The book is as good as the movie.)
Valencia no es tan grande como Barcelona. (Valencia is not as big as Barcelona.)
Paco no canta tan bien como Lola. (Paco doesn’t sing as well as Lola.)
Paco y Lola no cantan igual de bien. (Paco and Lola don’t sing equally well.)
José es igual de fuerte que Fermín. (José is as strong as Fermín.)
José y Fermín son igual de fuertes. (José and Fermín are equally strong.)
Comparisons with verbs
In order to make comparisons of (in)equality with verbs, use the following formulas:
Verb + tanto + como
Verb + igual + que
Yo duermo tanto como Miguel. (I sleep as much as Miguel.)
Él no estudia español tanto como su hermana. (He doesn’t study Spanish as much as his sister.)
Las naranjas cuestan igual que las bananas. (Oranges cost the same as bananas.)
Las naranjas y las bananas cuestan igual. (Oranges and bananas cost the same.)
Comparisons with nouns
When we talk about the same quantity of nouns, we use the following formula:
Tanto (tanta, tantos, tantas) + noun + como
Hoy María no tiene tanto trabajo como la semana pasada. (Today María doesn’t have as much work as last week.)
Lucía no tiene tantas amigas como Pilar. (Lucía doesn’t have as many friends as Pilar.)
Juan tiene tantos libros como Ernesto. (Juan has as many books as Ernesto.)
When we talk about the same quantity but also quality, we use the following formula:
El mismo (la misma, los mismos, las mismas) + noun + que
Mi madre tiene los mismos intereses que mi padre. (My mother has the same interests as my father.)
Diego bebe la misma bebida que Pepe. (Diego is drinking the same drink as Pepe.)
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