37.2.3 Verb +tanto+como
If we are comparing two subjects in terms of an action (i.e. a verb), use this construction
with tanto como, ‘as much as’.
Hugo come tanto como su abuelo.
Hugo eats as much as his grandfather.
No trabajan tanto como yo.
They don’t work as much as I do.Note that tanto, used without como, means ‘so much’.
¡Trabajan tanto! They work so much!
Note also tan/tanto que, not involving comparisons, in:
El examen era tan difícil que no pude responderlo.
The exam was so difficult that I couldn’t do it.Tardaron tanto que tuvimos que irnos.
They took so long that we had to leave.37.2.4 Other ways of expressing comparisons of equality
Comparisons of equality may also be expressed with(a)Igual que
Ella se viste igual que tú.
She dresses the same way as you.(b)Lo mismo queAna me dijo lo mismo que tú.
Ana told me the same thing as you.
In the examples above igual que, ‘the same way’, and lo mismo que, ‘the same thing’,
are not interchangeable. But note:
Me da igual or Me da lo mismo.
It makes no difference to me.(c)Igual a
Antonio es igual a su padre. Antonio is like his father.
(d)Igual de/igualmente
El chino es igual de difícil.
Chinese is just as/equally difficult.El japonés es igualmente dificil.
Japanese is just as/equally difficult.
(e)ParecerseCarmen se parece a su abuela.
Carmen looks like her grandmother.Comparisons of equality 37.2