Using de tan/tanto + que/como to express a cause (subordinate causal clause)

Learn how to express a cause with de tan/tanto... que/como in Spanish

In Spanish we can express a cause by using the following structure:

De tan/tanto + que/como+ indicative

There are different ways to use this structure:

De tanto/a/os/as + noun + que/como + indicative

No pudimos entrar en la fiesta de tanta gente que había.We couldn't get into the party because there were so many people.

Le dio un dolor de barriga de tantos chocolates como comió.He got a stomach ache because of all those chocolates he ate.

Creo que me voy a desmayar de tanto dolor que tengo en la pierna.I think I am going to faint because my leg is so painful.

No va a sentirse sola de tantas amigas como tiene en la facultad.She won't feel lonely because she has so many friends at university.

The clause introduced by "De tanto/a/os/as" expresses the reason the main clause happens.

De tan+ adjective/adverb + que/como + indicative

Lo van a echar del grupo de tan soso como es.He is going to get kicked out of the group because he is very dull.

De tan bien que baila le van a dar un premio.He is going to be given a prize because he dances so well.

Un día de estos tendrá un accidente de tan mal como conduce.One of these days he will have an accident because he drives so badly.

The clause introduced by "De tan" expresses the reason the main clause happens.

De tanto/tan poco que/como + indicative

De tanto que come se va a poner gordísimo.He is going to get really fat because he eats so much.

Lo van a echar del trabajo de tanto como se queja.He's going to get fired because he complains so much.

Parece que tiene 20 años más de tan poco como se cuida.She looks 20 years older because she doesn't look after herself at all.

Te vas a convertir en un solitario de tan poco que sales.You will become a loner because you hardly go out.

The clause introduced by "De tanto/tan poco" expresses the reason the main clause happens.

Note that que and como are interchangeable in all the above examples.

The clause can be placed at the beginning of the sentence or at the end.

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Examples and resources

Parece que tiene 20 años más de tan poco como se cuida.She looks 20 years older because she doesn't look after herself at all.
Te vas a convertir en un solitario de tan poco que sales.You will become a loner because you hardly go out.
No pudimos entrar en la fiesta de tanta gente que había.We couldn't get into the party because there were so many people.
Creo que me voy a desmayar de tanto dolor que tengo en la pierna.I think I am going to faint because my leg is so painful.
No va a sentirse sola de tantas amigas como tiene en la facultad.She won't feel lonely because she has so many friends at university.
De tan bien que baila le van a dar un premio.He is going to be given a prize because he dances so well.
De tanto que come se va a poner gordísimo.He is going to get really fat because he eats so much.
Lo van a echar del trabajo de tanto como se queja.He's going to get fired because he complains so much.
Un día de estos tendrá un accidente de tan mal como conduce.One of these days he will have an accident because he drives so badly.
Lo van a echar del grupo de tan soso como es.He is going to get kicked out of the group because he is very dull.
Le dio un dolor de barriga de tantos chocolates como comió.He got a stomach ache because of all those chocolates he ate.
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