Tan and tanto
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
No me quedan monedas para el autobús.
I don't have that many coins left for the bus.
The rule
This short lesson is the test for choosing between tan and tanto, two words English blurs into "so" and "as." The comparative lesson already covered tan ... como and tanto ... como; this page adds the choice rule and the intensifier use ("so," "so much," "so many").
The pattern
The test: quality or quantity?
Before an adjective or adverb (a quality), use tan: tan alta, tan rápido.
Before a noun (a quantity), use tanto, agreeing with the noun in gender and number:
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | tanto | tantos |
| feminine | tanta | tantas |
After a verb with no noun, use tanto, unchanging: Trabaja tanto. (She works so much.)
Both work with or without como. With como they compare (tan alta como su hermano); without it they intensify: Es tan difícil. (It is so hard.) ¡Hay tanta gente! (There are so many people!)
Examples
- Es tan fácil como pareceIt is as easy as it looks
- No tengo tantos amigos como ellaI do not have as many friends as her
- Trabaja tanto como su padreHe works as much as his father
- Es tan difícilIt is so hard
- ¡Hay tanta gente!There are so many people!
- No es tan graveIt is not so serious
Watch out
- Tiene tan libros como yo. Tiene tantos libros como yo.Before a noun, use tanto (which agrees), not tan.
- Es tanto difícil como el otro. Es tan difícil como el otro.Before an adjective, use tan, not tanto.
- Tiene tanto amigos como ella. Tiene tantos amigos como ella.Tanto must agree in number with the noun (amigos is plural).