tan + Adjective + coma
As ... as
To say as ... as, use tan + adjective or adverb + coma or como: É tan alto coma o pai (He is as tall as his father).
How It Works
The pattern: tan + adjective or adverb + coma / como + second item.
- A miña casa é tan grande coma a túa. (My house is as big as yours.)
- Debuxo tan ben coma ti. (I draw as well as you.)
Coma or como?
- Before a personal pronoun: only coma, with min and ti: coma min, coma ti, coma eles.
- Before a clause with a verb: usually como: Non é tan difícil como parece.
- Before other nouns: coma is usual, and como is also possible.
Coma alone means like: without tan, coma presents two things as equal: Non hai ninguén coma ti (There is no one like you), Corre coma o vento (He runs like the wind). Como instead means as, in the role of: Traballa como camareiro (He works as a waiter).
Tan before adjectives, tanto before nouns: tan alto, but tanto tempo coma antes. See comparing quantities.
Not a result clause: tan … que means so … that and shows a result, not an equal comparison. See result clauses.
Examples (6)
- É tan alto coma o pai.
He is as tall as his father.
Word by Word: Is so tall as the father.
- Non é tan difícil como parece.
It is not as difficult as it seems.
Word by Word: Not is so difficult as seems.
Before a clause with a verb, como is the usual choice.
- Debuxo tan ben coma ti.
I draw as well as you.
Word by Word: Draw-I so well as you.
Tan also works with adverbs such as ben.
- Non hai ninguén coma ti.
There is no one like you.
Word by Word: Not there-is no-one like you.
Coma without tan means like.
- A miña casa é tan grande coma a túa.
My house is as big as yours.
Word by Word: The my house is so big as the yours.
- Corre coma o vento.
He runs like the wind.
Word by Word: Runs like the wind.
Common Mistakes
Using como before a personal pronoun.
É tan alto como min.É tan alto coma min.Before a personal pronoun, the comparison needs coma.
Using que for an equal comparison.
É tan alto que o pai.É tan alto coma o pai.Tan … que introduces a result (so … that). For as … as, use coma or como.
Using tanto before an adjective.
É tanto alto coma o pai.É tan alto coma o pai.Before an adjective or adverb, the form is tan. Tanto goes with nouns and verbs.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Tan compares equal degrees, with coma/como introducing the other term.
Related Patterns
- máis / menos + Adjective + caComparing with Máis and Menos
Comparisons of more and less use ca or que.
Level 2 - tanto + Noun + comaComparing Quantities
Tanto, tanta, tantos, tantas compare quantities of nouns.
Level 3 - tan ... que / tanto ... queResult Clauses: Tan ... Que
Tan … que shows a result rather than an equal comparison.
Level 3 - mellor / peor / maior / menorIrregular Comparatives
Another way to compare, with one-word forms.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice tan + Adjective + coma in Bubblegum
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