# Tan... como, tanto... como: comparing equals

> id: grammar.adjectives.comparatives-equality · category: grammar · depth: standard · levels: A2 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** Tan + adjective/adverb + como (tan caro como); tanto/a/os/as + noun + como (tanta paciencia como); verb + tanto como.

To say two things are equal, Spanish uses an 'as … as' frame whose first word depends on what's being compared. With adjectives and adverbs, use invariable tan … como: es tan eficiente como su jefe, corre tan rápido como yo.

With nouns, use tanto … como, and tanto agrees with the noun in gender and number: tanto tiempo como, tanta paciencia como, tantos clientes como, tantas opciones como antes. With a verb, use tanto como after it: trabaja tanto como tú.

Negated, the structure slides toward 'not as … as', i.e. inequality: no es tan caro como pensaba ('not as expensive as I thought'), no tengo tanto tiempo como antes.

## Examples
- Este barrio es tan tranquilo como el nuestro. — This neighborhood is as quiet as ours.
- No tengo tanto tiempo como antes. — I don't have as much time as before.
- Este barrio es tan tranquilo como el nuestro. — This neighbourhood is as quiet as ours.

Related: grammar.adjectives.comparatives-inequality

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