tanto + Noun + coma
Comparing Quantities
To compare amounts of something, use tanto, agreeing with the noun, + coma: Non teño tanto tempo coma antes (I do not have as much time as before). For more or less, use máis or menos + noun + ca: Ten máis libros ca ti (She has more books than you).
How It Works
Equal amounts: tanto + noun + coma.
- tanto + masculine singular: tanto diñeiro coma ti
- tanta + feminine singular: tanta paciencia coma ela
- tantos + masculine plural: tantos amigos coma antes
- tantas + feminine plural: tantas horas coma nós
With a verb. Tanto goes after the verb and does not change: Xa non chove tanto coma no inverno (It no longer rains as much as in winter).
Coma or como? The same choice as with tan ... coma: coma is typical before a noun, a pronoun or a word such as antes, and it takes min and ti (coma min); before a clause with its own verb, como is usual: Non había tanta xente como pensabamos.
Unequal amounts: máis or menos + noun + ca or que. Ten máis libros ca ti, Hoxe hai menos coches que onte (There are fewer cars today than yesterday). Máis and menos never change. Before a clause, use do que: Comprou máis pan do que precisabamos. See comparing with máis and menos.
Tanto ... coma meaning "both ... and". The same words can join two items that are both included: Veñen tanto os nenos coma os pais (Both the children and the parents are coming). Como is also common here: tanto os nenos como os pais.
Not a result. Tanto ... que shows a consequence, not an equal comparison. See result clauses.
Examples (6)
- Non teño tanto tempo coma antes.
I do not have as much time as before.
Word by Word: Not have-I so-much time as before.
- Ten máis libros ca ti.
She has more books than you.
Word by Word: Has-she more books than you.
- Nunca vin tanta xente coma hoxe.
I have never seen as many people as today.
Word by Word: Never saw-I so-much people as today.
Xente is feminine singular, so tanta.
- Ela non ten tantas preguntas coma nós.
She does not have as many questions as we do.
Word by Word: She not has so-many questions as we.
- Xa non chove tanto coma no inverno.
It no longer rains as much as in winter.
Word by Word: Already not rains so-much as in-the winter.
After a verb, tanto does not change.
- Hoxe hai menos coches que onte.
There are fewer cars today than yesterday.
Word by Word: Today there-are fewer cars than yesterday.
Common Mistakes
Using tan before a noun.
Non teño tan tempo coma ti.Non teño tanto tempo coma ti.Tan goes before adjectives and adverbs. Before a noun, use tanto, tanta, tantos or tantas.
Forgetting to make tanto agree.
Había tanto persoas coma onte.Había tantas persoas coma onte.Before a noun, tanto agrees like an adjective: persoas is feminine plural, so tantas.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Tanto compares equal quantities and agrees when attached to a noun.
Related Patterns
- máis / menos + Adjective + caComparing with Máis and Menos
Unequal comparisons with máis and menos.
Level 2 - máis do que + ClauseComparing with a Clause: Do Que
Before a clause with its own verb, use do que.
Level 3 - tan ... que / tanto ... queResult Clauses: Tan ... Que
Tanto ... que shows a result, not an equal amount.
Level 3 - mellor / peor / maior / menorIrregular Comparatives
One-word comparatives that also use ca and que.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice tanto + Noun + coma in Bubblegum
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