Tan vs. tanto vs. tanto como

[Michael]

I'm really confused between the three. How do you know which one to use?
Can someone clear this up for me.......
If you could, examples work great for me!
Gracias

[Tomisimo]

I'll give it a shot.

1. When "tan"is used as an adverb modifying another adverb or an adjective, it means "so".

Ella es tan metódica. = She is so methodical.
Es tan grande que no me lo puedo imaginar. = It is so big I can't fathom it.
Sucedió tan rápidamente... = It happened so quickly...

2. Sentences using tan often can be translated using the word such in English.

Tiene una barba tan grande. = He has such a big beard.
Está tan lejos. = It's such a long way away (It's so far away).

3. Tanto (and tantos, tanta, tantas). These are adjectives, used to modify nouns, and are ususlly translated "so much" or "so many". Tanto must agree in number and gender with the noun it modifies, so in many cases it must change to tantos, tanta or tantas.

¡Tengo tanto trabajo! = I have so much work.
Traigo tantos libros que no aguanto mi mochila. = I'm bringing so many books I can hardly carry my backpack.
He visto tanta televisión que me duele la cabeza. = I've watched so much TV that my head hurts.
¡Tengo tantas ganas de ir! = I want to go so much!

4. Comparisons (tan x como y = as x as y).

El no es tan viejo como yo. = He is not as old as I am.

No tengo tanto dinero como ella. = I don't have as much money as she does.
Vi tantos coches como tú. = I saw as many cars as you did.
Tomo tanta agua como tú. = I drink as much water as you.
Tengo tantas canicas como tú. = I have as many marbles as you.

With these comparisons, what's the difference between tan and tanto/tantos/tanta/tantas? It's simply this: If the word you're modifying is an adverb or adjective, you need to use tan. If the word you're modifying is a noun, use tanto, and make sure it agrees in number and gender with the noun (tanto/tantos/tanta/tantas). Look at the above examples. Viejo is an adjective, while dinero, coches, agua and canicas are nouns.

[Michael]

¡Muchas Gracias!

That helped a lot.........

[Jessica]

...That will help me too! ^^

[bobjenkins]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

I'll give it a shot.

1. When "tan"is used as an adverb modifying another adverb or an adjective, it means "so".

Ella es tan metódica. = She is so methodical.
Es tan grande que no me lo puedo imaginar. = It is so big I can't fathom it.
Sucedió tan rápidamente... = It happened so quickly...

2. Sentences using tan often can be translated using the word such in English.

Tiene una barba tan grande. = He has such a big beard.
Está tan lejos. = It's such a long way away (It's so far away).

3. Tanto (and tantos, tanta, tantas). These are adjectives, used to modify nouns, and are ususlly translated "so much" or "so many". Tanto must agree in number and gender with the noun it modifies, so in many cases it must change to tantos, tanta or tantas.

¡Tengo tanto trabajo! = I have so much work.
Traigo tantos libros que no aguanto mi mochila. = I'm bringing so many books I can hardly carry my backpack.
He visto tanta televisión que me duele la cabeza. = I've watched so much TV that my head hurts.
¡Tengo tantas ganas de ir! = I want to go so much!

4. Comparisons (tan x como y = as x as y).

El no es tan viejo como yo. = He is not as old as I am.

No tengo tanto dinero como ella. = I don't have as much money as she does.
Vi tantos coches como tú. = I saw as many cars as you did.
Tomo tanta agua como tú. = I drink as much water as you.
Tengo tantas canicas como tú. = I have as many marbles as you.

With these comparisons, what's the difference between tan and tanto/tantos/tanta/tantas? It's simply this: If the word you're modifying is an adverb or adjective, you need to use tan. If the word you're modifying is a noun, use tanto, and make sure it agrees in number and gender with the noun (tanto/tantos/tanta/tantas). Look at the above examples. Viejo is an adjective, while dinero, coches, agua and canicas are nouns.

tambien mi Muchas gracias