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la silla es tan duro como la mesa. correct incorrect

la silla es tan duro como la mesa. correct incorrect

2 min read 05-02-2025
la silla es tan duro como la mesa. correct incorrect

Is "La silla es tan duro como la mesa" Correct? A Deep Dive into Spanish Grammar

The sentence "La silla es tan duro como la mesa" attempts to say, "The chair is as hard as the table." However, it's grammatically incorrect. This article will explain why and offer the correct way to express this idea in Spanish.

Understanding the Error: Gender Agreement in Spanish Adjectives

The primary issue lies in the adjective "duro" (hard). In Spanish, adjectives must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they modify.

  • "Silla" (chair) is feminine. Therefore, the adjective describing it should also be feminine.
  • "Duro" is the masculine singular form of the adjective.

The correct feminine singular form of "duro" is "dura."

The Correct Sentence: "La silla es tan dura como la mesa"

The accurate translation of "The chair is as hard as the table" in Spanish is: "La silla es tan dura como la mesa."

This version correctly uses the feminine form "dura" to agree with the feminine noun "silla."

Expanding on Comparisons in Spanish

Let's explore other ways to express similar comparisons in Spanish, building on this grammatical point.

Different Degrees of Hardness:

You might want to express varying degrees of hardness. Here are some options:

  • "La silla es más dura que la mesa": The chair is harder than the table. (Uses "más dura" - more hard, feminine singular)
  • "La silla es menos dura que la mesa": The chair is less hard than the table. (Uses "menos dura" - less hard, feminine singular)
  • "La silla es tan dura o más dura que la mesa": The chair is as hard as or harder than the table. (Includes an alternative for comparison)

Comparing Other Objects:

The same principle of adjective agreement applies when comparing other objects. For example:

  • "La pared es tan lisa como la mesa": The wall is as smooth as the table. ("Lisa" is feminine singular, agreeing with "pared" - wall)
  • "El escritorio es tan grande como la mesa": The desk is as big as the table. ("Grande" is masculine singular, agreeing with "escritorio" - desk)

Conclusion: Mastering Gender Agreement

Correctly using gender agreement with adjectives is crucial for fluent and grammatically correct Spanish. The seemingly small difference between "duro" and "dura" can significantly impact the meaning and accuracy of your sentences. Remember to always match the gender and number of the adjective to the noun it modifies, just as we corrected "La silla es tan duro como la mesa" to the accurate "La silla es tan dura como la mesa." This attention to detail will greatly improve your Spanish skills!

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