Spanish comparison of ideas

When the ideas are compared, de lo que is used where the single English word than suffices.

Este señor trabaja más de lo que ustedes piensan.
This gentleman works more than you think.

The Spanish expression "tan como"

In comparisons of equality, the English formula as + adverb/ adjective + as is translated into Spanish by tan + adverb/ adjective + como.

Ella no habla tan claramente como él.
She doesn't speak as clearly as he.

Ana no es tan bella como María.
Anne is not as pretty as Mary.

Comparison of adverbs in Spanish

Adverbs are compared like adjectives. Only four adverbs have irregular comparative forms.

mucho a lot, very
poco little

bien well
mal badly

más more
menos less

mejor better
peor worse

Este estudiante habla mejor que yo.
This student speaks better than I.

Carmen trabaja menos que la otra enfermera.
Carmen works less than the other nurse.

Useful Spanish expressions

Do you want to sound as if you were a native speaker of Spanish? Well, since you're reading this post, it's near possible. I have listed here some basic and common expressions used daily by native Spanish speakers.

¿Ah sí? - Really?

Example:

Tomorrow we are throwing a party at home - Really? - Yes!
Mañana vamos a montar una fiesta en casa. - ¿Ah sí? - Sí.


¿A que...? - I bet...

Examples:

I bet you won't dare to tell it to her.
¿A que no te atreves a decírselo?

I bet they know it.
A que lo saben.


¿A que no? - Don't you?/ Am I wrong?/ I don't bet

Example:

Marco told me you speak ten languages, don't you?
Marco me dijo que hablas diez idiomas ¿a que no?


¿A que sí? - Do you?/ Am I right?/ I bet!

Examples:

They say you can sing well? Do you?
Dicen que cantas muy bien. ¿A que sí?

You won't dare to check them out because you are jealous, am I right?
Lo que pasa es que no quieres verlos porque tienes envidia, ¿a que sí?


¿A qué viene + INFINITIVE ? - What's the point of + INFINITIVE ?

Example:

What's the point of yelling at me when I can hear you from here?
¿A qué viene gritarme cuando puedo oirte desde aquí?


¡¿Cómo crees?! - How do you get off saying that?!

Examples:

Are you gay? - How do you get off saying that?! / Are you crazy? / How could you say that?
¿Eres gay? - No. ¡¿Cómo crees?!

Is he your boyfriend? - What are you telling me?!
¿Es tu novio? - No. ¡¿Cómo crees?!


¿Cómo de + ADJETIVO...? - How + ADJECTIVE...?

Examples:

How fast is your Firefox?
¿Cómo de rápido es tu firefox?

How big is the Philippines?
¿Cómo de grande es las Filipinas?


Como debe ser - As it should be

Examples:

The chicken can't fly - As it should be
El pollo no puede volar - Como debe ser


¿Cómo es que.. - How come...?

Examples:

How come you don't know the answer? - How should I know?
¿Cómo es que no sabes la respuesta? - ¡Qué sé yo!

How come you didn't come to the party with them?
¿Cómo es que no viniste a la fiesta con ellos?


¡Como quieras! - As you wish!

Example:

I will do it this way! - As you wish! / Whatever way you want!
Lo haré de esta manera - ¡Como quieras!


¿Cómo que..? - What do you mean...?

Examples:

What do you mean she doesn't like me?
¿Cómo que yo no le gusto?

What do you mean it wasn't you?
¿Cómo que no fuiste tú?


Como si + Past/ Past perfect subjunctive - As if (stating a fact)

Examples:

We are eating slowly as if we were not hungry
Comemos léntamente como si no tuvieramos hambre

We were eating slowly as if we were not hungry
Estábamos comiendo léntamente como si no hubiéramos tenido hambre


Dar por sentado - To assume

Examples:

She assumed her mom wouldn't come so she invited her friends to her house.
Dio por sentado que su mamá no vendría, así que invitó a sus amigas a su casa.

He assumed he would get used to his schedule at school in a couple of weeks.
Daba por sentado que se acostumbraría al horario de escuela en un par de semanas.


Es decir - That is to say/ You know/ Figuratively speaking

Examples:

My cousin, you know, Roberto's son.
Mi primo, es decir, el hijo de Roberto.

These words are synonyms, you know, words that mean the same.
Estas palabras son sinónimas, es decir, significan lo mismo.


Es que - The reason is that

Examples:

The reason is that I felt bad, that's why I left.
Es que me sentí mal, por eso me fui.


Menos mal - It's a good thing/ Thank god!

Example:

Thank god you didn't hurt yourself!
Menos mal no te has dañado.


¡Ni hablar! - No way!

Example:

Will you lend me your cap? - No way!
¿Quieres dejarme tu gorra? - ¡Ni hablar!


Ni que + Past subjunctive - As if (emphatic use)

Examples:

Can you take my son to school? - Why should I? As if I were your husband!
¿Puedes llevar a mi hijo a la escuela? - ¿Y por qué lo voy a hacer? ¡Ni que fuera yo tu marido!

Why don't you like me? As if I was that ugly.
¿Por que no te gusto yo? Ni que fuera feo

Why didn't Marco buy it? - Why should he? He's not that rich, you know.
¿Por qué Marco no lo compró? - ¡Ni que tuviera mucho dinero!


Ni que lo digas! - It's obvious not even you mention it

Examples:

He is so stupid! - Yes! But there's no need to say that. Everybody knows it, you know!
Es tan estúpido. - ¡Ni que lo digas!

You're more handsome than I - Oh! you don't have to say that! Everybody knows it!
Eres más guapo que yo - ¡Ni que lo digas!

Singapore is a very clean country. - Everybody knows that! Even you don't mention it.
Singapur es un país muy limpio. - ¡Ni que lo digas!


Ni siquiera - Not even

Examples:

Our professor is not rich. He even doesn't have a car!
Nuestro profesor no es rico. ¡Ni siquiera tiene coche!

They didn't even speak to me nor look at me.
Ni siquiera me hablaron ni me miraron.


No es para tanto - It's not a big deal/ There's no reason to be sad/ It's okay

Examples:

I missed the show. - It's okay! There's no reason to be sad!
Me perdí el espectáculo. - Está bien. No es para tanto.

They told me I'm not allowed to go to the party. - Don't be sad, it's not a big deal.
Han dicho que no puedo ir a la fiesta. - ¡No es para tanto!

She told me she doesn't love me anymore. - It's okay. Don't be sad. - But I really love her!
Me ha dicho que ya no me quiere. - Está bien. No es para tanto. - ¡Pero, sí que la quiero!


¡No me digas! - You don't say!/ No! you're kidding!/ Really? (Ironic)

Example:

This car is mine. - You don't say! It's Jose's.
Éste es coche mío. - ¡No me digas! Es de Jose.


Ojalá - I wish

Examples:

I wish it rains so that the temperature cools down.
Ojalá llueva para que haga frío.

I wish you were here now, but you are not.
Ojalá estuvieras aquí ahora, pero no lo estás.

May he get well soon. - God willing!
Que se mejore pronto. - ¡Ojalá!


O sea - That is/ You know

Example:

The people, you know, you and I.
La gente, o sea, tú y yo.

I'm looking forward to visiting some European countries, you know, Spain, France, Germany, etc.
Estoy deseando visitar a algunos paises europeos, o sea, España, Francia, Alemania, etc.


Por + INFINITIVE que no quede - There's no harm in + GERUND

Example5:

Why don't you ask the the police? Come one! There's no harm in asking.
¿Por qué no preguntas a la policía? ¡Venga! Por preguntar que no quede.

Try it! There's no harm in trying.
¡Pruébalo! Que no quede por probarlo.


Porque sí - It just does/ There's no explanation for it

Example:

Why you don't like it? - I just don't (like it).
¿Por qué no te gusta? - Porque sí.

Why does it rain at night? - It just does.
¿Por qué llueve por la noche? - Porque sí.


Por si - In case

Examples:

Bring your umbrella in case it rains.
Llévate el paraguas por si llueve.

Make a note in case you forget.
Apúntalo por si te olvidas.


Qué digo... - I mean..

Examples:

She is Spanish, I mean, Mexican.
Es española, qué digo, mexicana.


¡Qué sé yo! - How should I know?

Example:

Did they like it? - How should I know?!
¿Les gustó? - ¡Qué sé yo!


¡Que sí!, ¡Que no! - Yes it is!, No it isn't!

Examples:

It's green! - Yes it is!/ No it isn't!
Es verde. - ¡Que sí!/ ¡Que no!


¡Qué va! - No way!

Examples:

They say you have to sleep with her. - No way!
Han dicho que tienes que dormir con ella - ¡Qué va!


He is going to be your roommate. - What?! Him?! My roommate?!
Va a ser tu compañero de cuarto. - ¡Qué va a ser mi compañero de cuarto ése!

She is going to be your stepmother. - Her? My step mom?!
Será tu madrasta. - ¡Qué va a ser mi madrasta!


Sí que.. - Really, Certainly

Examples:

I really like it!
¡Sí que me gusta!

That's certainly the truth.
Eso sí que es verdad.

Yes you can!
¡Sí que puedes!

You really know how to do it.
Tú sí que sabes hacerlo.


¿Tú crees? - Do you think so?

Example:

I think it's going to rain. - Do you think so? - Yes.
Creo que va a llover. - ¿Tú crees? - Sí.


¡Ya lo creo! - Of course

Example:

Do you think he is going to win? - Of course, I do!
¿Crees que va a ganar? - ¡Ya lo creo!


¡Ya te lo decía yo! - I told you so!

Example:

You were right. Pacquiao won! - See? I'd been telling that to you!
Tenías razón. ¡Pacquiao ganó! - ¿Ves? ¡Ya te lo decía yo!


¡Y que lo digas! - You can say that again!/ Indeed!

Example:

That house is very beautiful! - Indeed!
Esa casa es muy preciosa. - ¡Y que lo digas!

Spanish Verbal Periphrasis

A verbal periphrasis is a verbal construction made of two verb forms, a conjugated form and an impersonal form (an infinitive, a present participle, or a past participle). Verbal periphrasis is used in the informal future, the present progressive, and the perfect tenses.

For this post, I have compiled some of the most important Spanish verbal periphrasis that students should begin to learn.

Acabar DE (to have just done something; to just can't VERB something) – Acaba de darse cuenta de mi error. (I have just noticed my error); Acababa de entrar cuando sonó el teléfono. (He had just entered when the telephone rang); ¿Puedes echarme una mano cuando acabes de limpiar? (Can you give me a hand when you're done cleaning?); No acabo de entender por qué lo hizo. (I just can't understand why he did it); No me acaba de parecer bien que revises el correo de tu novio. (I just don't think it's right that you check your boyfriend's email)

Acabar GER (to end up doing something) - Me sigue pareciendo mal que acabara pagando la novia. (I still find it bad that the girlfriend ended up paying)

Andar GER (to get around doing something) – Anduvimos buscando la llave. (We were searching around for the keys)

Comenzar A (to start doing something) – La gente comenzó a preocuparse por el medio ambiente. (The people started to care about the environment)

Continuar GER (to continue doing something) - En cualquier caso continúa siendo optimista. (In any case he still is optimist); No creía que continuara lloviendo. (I didn't think it would continue raining)

Deber DE (must – expressing possibility) – Debe de ser muy caro estudiar en los Estados Unidos. (It must be very expensive to study in the US); Deben de haberse ido por aquí. (They must have gone this way); Deben de haberse dado cuenta de que tenemos problemas. (They must have noticed we have problems); Deben de haberse equivocado. (They must have been wrong)

Deber INF (must – expressing obligation) - No debes preocuparte. (You must not worry); Debería cambiarse cada mes. (It should be changed monthly);  No deberías haberla dejado sola. (You shouldn't have left her alone); Debíamos haber salido ayer (We should have left yesterday)

Dejar DE (to stop doing something) - Cuando deje de llover nos iremos. (When it stops raining we will go)

Dejar QUE (let someone/ something do something) - Deja que acabe de llover. (let the rain stop); Deja que me toque la lotería y verás. (Wait until I won the lottery and you'll see)

Estar GER (to be doing something) – Los niños están estudiando. (The children are studying)

Haber DE (must – expressing possibility and obligation) – Hemos de pagar la cuenta. (We have to pay the bill); Habían de ser las nueve cuando llegaron. (It must be 9 o'clock when they arirved)

Ir A (be going to do something) – Vamos a estudiar. (We are going to study)

Ir GER (be gradually doing something) - Id pensando en el tema que queréis tratar. (You can now start thinking about the topic you want to talk about); Hemos ido consiguiendo lo que queríamos. (We've been getting what we wanted); Voy comprendiendo que no te ha gustado. (I'm underdstanding that you didn't like it)

Llegar A (to come to do something, to achieve) - Llegó a conocer a varios directores de cine. (He got to meet some cinema directors); No llego a comprenderlo. (I just can't understand it); Me ha llegado a parecer bien que sólo le des 20 pesos a tu hijo, pues si le das más, se compra cualquier chuchería en la escuela. (I, now, think it's right that you only give 20 pesos to your son, if you give more, he'll buy junkfoods in school); Julia llegó a ser presidenta. (Julia became president); Temí no llegar a ver el año nuevo. (I'm afraid I can't get to new year)

No dejar DE (to keep on doing something; to be always ADJECTIVE; to can't help) - No deja de preguntarme por ti. (He keeps asking me about you); Eso no deja de tener gracia. (I always find that funny); No deja de ser raro que no haya venido. (It's odd you didn't come); No por eso deja de ser una tontería lo que has dicho. (That does not stop what you said from being silly); No puedo dejar de asombrarme. (I can't help be amazed); No dejes de visitarlos. (make sure you visit them); No me deja de parecer mal que les sigas pidiendo dinero a tus padres. (I have always thought it bad that you keep asking money to your parents); NOTE: When this periphrasis is used in a negative imperative sentence, its meaning changes to "to make sure to do something" as in "no dejes de visitarlos" which means "make sure to visit them".

Parar DE (to stop doing something) – No para de quejarse. (He doesn't stop complaining)

Poder INF (can, to be able to) – Puedo hacerlo yo solo. (I can do it alone); No se puede fumar (Smoking prohibited); ¿Me puede decir su nombre? (Can you tell me your name?)

Poder INF (indicates possibility) – No conozco a nadie que pueda haberlo hecho. (I don't know anyone that could have done it); Podrías haberte matado si no hubieras tenido cuidado. (You could have killed yourself if you hadn't been careful); Puede ser que tengas razón. (You could be right)

Seguir GER (to be still doing something; to keep on doing something) – Me preocupa que sigas cometiendo tantos errores. (I'm worried you keep on making a lot of erros)

Soler INF (to be doing something usuall ) – Solemos comenzar a las ocho. (We usually start at 8)

Tardar EN (to take much time in doing something) - No tarde usted en informarme. (Please tell me as soon as you know); No tardaron en darse cuenta de mi presencia. (They immediately noticed my presence)

Tener QUE (to have to do something, should) – Tengo que comprarlo. (I have to buy it); Tiene que dolerte mucho ¿no? (It hurts a lot, doesn't it?); ¡Tendrías que haberlo dicho antes! (You should have told us before)

Tener QUE (must – expresses supposition; same as deber de) - Se me tiene que haber caído por aquí. (I must have dropped it over here); Tiene que ser muy caro ir de vacaciones a Francia. (Going to France for the holidays must be very expensive)

Terminar DE (to not quite feel something – expresses uncertain feelings) - No me cae mal, pero no termina de convencerme. (I don't hate him, I'm not too sure about him); No me termina de gustar la casa que hemos visto. (I'm not sure about the house we've seen)

Venir A (to be more or less – expresses approximation) – “Perhaps” y “Maybe” vienen a significar lo mismo. (Perhaps and Maybe more or less mean the same thing)

Venir GER (to have been doing something) - Eso lo vengo diciendo desde hace tiempo. (I've been saying that since a long time ago)

Volver A (to do something again) – Por favor, no lo vuelvas a hacer. (Don't do it again, please)


If you have any question about the usage of these Spanish verbal periphrasis, please leave a comment below.

Spanish verbs like "Gustar"

As a new learner of Spanish, it's a real struggle to figure out how the verb "Gustar" works, however when you finally get the hang of it, you are on your way to your Spanish mastery. Here I have a list of some verbs that work the same way as the verb "Gustar"

Verbs	Meaning	Sample sentence
Aburrir	to bore	Me aburre ver películas (I feel bored watching movies)
Agradar	to like, to be nice	Me agrada estar aquí (It's nice to be here)
Alegrar	to make feel happy	Me alegra saber que estás bien (I'm happy to know that you're OK)
Apenar	to sadden	Nos apena que tú tengas que irte (We're sad that you have to go)
Apetecer	to feel like	Me apetece comer espagueti (I feel like eating Spaghuetti)
Bastar	to be enough	Me bastó leer el primer párrafo para saber que era un genio (I only had to read the first paragraph to know that he was a genius)
Caer, Sentar, Sabe mal	to put out	Me cayó mal que no me invitaran (I was rather put out that they didn't ask me)
Compensar, Valer la pena	to be worth it	Te compensa hacerlo (It's worth you doing it)
Convenir	to be advisable	Te convendría olvidar ese asunto (You would be well advised to forget all about this business)
Corresponder, Incumbir, Competer	to be one's responsibility	Te corresponde a tí cuidar al niño (It's your responsibility to take care of the child)
Costar trabajo	to be difficult	Me cuesta trabajo entender su acento (I have difficulties understanding his accent)
Chocar	to be shocking	Me choca mucho que la gente no respete la ley (It's shocking that people don't follow the law)
Dar + noun	to make someone feel… etc
Dar igual	to not care	Me da igual (It doesn't matter)
Dar rabia	to make angry	Me da rabia que los niños siempre hagan ruido (The noise the children make drives me mad)
Dar nostalgia	to make feel nostalgic	Le da nostalgia ver la casa de su abuela (Seeing her grandmother's house makes her feel nostalgic)
Dar miedo	to make feel scared	A los niños les da miedo cruzar por la calle (The children are scared crossing the street)
Dar vergüenza	to make feel embarrased	Me da vergüenza pedirle dinero a mis padres (I feel embarrassed asking money to my parents)
Desagradar	to not like	Me desagrada tener que decírselo (I don't like having to tell her)
Disgustar	to upset	Me disgustó mucho que me mintiera (I was very upset that he lied to me)
Doler	to be hurt	Les duele que digas eso (It hurts them that you're saying that)
Emocionar	to be thrilled	Nos emocionan ver películas de terror (We're thrilled about watching horror movies)
Encantar	to love	Te encanta pasear por la playa (You love walking along the beach)
Entusiasmar	to be keen on	Me entusiasma visitar España (I'm keen on visiting Spain)
Exasperar	to be exasperating	Me exasperó tener que esperar (I found having to wait exasperating)
Extrañar	to be strange	Me extraña que no lo sepas (I'm surprised you don't know)
Faltar	to be lacking	Me faltan 3 dolares (I'm lacking three dollars; I need three dollars)
Fascinar	to love	Me fascina viajar (I love travelling)
Fastidiar	to annoy	Me fastidia tener que repetir las cosas (It annoys me to have to repeat things)
Hacer falta	to need	Me hacían falta 10 dolares para poder comprar el libro (I needed 10 dollars to buy the book)
Importar	to matter	A algunos hombres no les importa que su novia cobre más que ellos (Some men don't mind that their girlfriend earn more than them)
Impresionar	to move, shock, surprise	Me impresiona el accidente (The accident has taken be aback)
Interesar	to be interested in	Le interesa el fútbol (He's interested in soccer)
Molestar	to annoy	Me molesta el ruido de la ciudad (The city's noise annoys me)
Parecer + adjective/ adverb	to seem … etc
Parecer bien	to consider it right	Me parece bien que ayudes a tus hermanos (I think it's right that you're helping your brothers)
Parecer injusto	to think it's unfair	Me parece injusto que no podamos participar (I think it's unfair that we can't join)
Preocupar	to worry	Me preocupa que sus hijos no vayan a la escuela (It worries me that her children don't go to school)
Quedar	to have left	Os quedan dos libros por leer (You still have two books to read)
Repugnar	to be disgusting	Me repugna beber de un vaso sucio (I find having to drink out of a dirty glass disgusting)
Ser + adjective	to be… etc
Ser imposible	to not be possible	Me fue imposible ir a la cena (I couldn't go to the dinner)
Ser indiferente	to not matter	Me es indiferente quien lo haga (It doesn't matter who does it)
Servir	to be useful	Estos zapatos ya no me sirven (These shoes are no good to me )
Sobrar	to have too much	No me sobra el tiempo para hacerlo (I don't have enough time to do it)
Sorprender	to be a surprise	Me sorprende que no hables inglés (I'm surprised you don't speak English)

100 most common Spanish verbs - Part 4

	Meaning	Sample sentence
aceptar	to accept, approve, to agree to	No acepto la oferta (I'm not accepting the offer)
realizar	to carry out	Realizó una magnifica labor (She did a magnificent job)
suponer	to suppose	Supongo que se habrá ido (I supposed he's gone)
comprender	to understand, comprehend	No comprendo la instrucción (I don't understand the instruction)
lograr	to get, obtain, to achieve, attain	Logró el quinto puesto (She managed fifth place)
explicar	to explain	Explícame qué fue lo que pasó (Explain me what happened)
preguntar	to ask, inquire	¡Deja de preguntar, por favor! (Please stop asking)
tocar	to touch, to play (an instrument)	¡No me toques! (Don't touch me!)
reconocer	to recognize	No te reconocí (I didn't recognize you)
estudiar	to study	Sigo estudiando (I'm still studying)
alcanzar	to reach, catch up	No alcanzo las cajas (I can't reach the boxes)
nacer	to be born	Nací en 1991 (I was born in 1991)
dirigir	to direct	Hay que dirigir todos nuestros esfuerzos hacia este fin (We must direct all our efforts to this end)
correr	to run	Tuve que correr para no llegar tarde (I had to run so as not to arrive late)
utilizar	to use, utilize	La están utilizando (She's being used)
pagar	to pay, pay for	Hay que pagar antes de entrar (You have to pay first before entering)
ayudar	to help	Ayudan a empresas en apuros (They help companies in difficulty)
gustar	to please, be pleasing	Me gusta el rojo (I like the red one)
jugar	to play (a game or sport)	Los niños juegan después de la clase (The children play after class)
escuchar	to listen, hear	Escúchame cuando te hablo (Listen to me when I'm talking to you)
cumplir	to fulfil, carry out	Siempre cumple su promesa (He always keeps his promise)
ofrecer	to offer	Me ofreció un té (He offered us tea)
descubrir	to discover	Descubrí que me estaba mintiendo (I discovered he's lying to me)
levantar	to raise, to lift	Que levante la mano quien quiere irse (Those who want to go, please raise your hand)
intentar	to try, attempt	Hay que intentarlo otra vez (We have to try it again)