Mi hermano trabaja tanto, que a veces necesita descansar.

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Breakdown of Mi hermano trabaja tanto, que a veces necesita descansar.

• a veces: sometimes
• necesitar: to need
• descansar: to rest
• que: that
• trabajar: to work
• el hermano: the brother
• tanto: so much
• la vez: the time

Questions & Answers about Mi hermano trabaja tanto, que a veces necesita descansar.

Why is there a comma before "que"?

In Spanish, when we use tanto … que to express the result or consequence of an action, it’s common to place a comma before que. This comma helps clarify that the second part of the sentence (a veces necesita descansar) follows as a direct consequence of the first part (trabaja tanto).

What does "tanto" mean here, and how is it used?

Tanto generally means so much or so many. In this sentence, Mi hermano trabaja tanto, it emphasizes the extent of the work he does. It’s used as an adverb to modify the verb trabaja, indicating the large amount of work.

Could we use "muy" instead of "tanto"?

No. Muy means very, but doesn’t convey the same sense of quantity or intensity that tanto does. Saying Mi hermano trabaja muy would not be correct. If you wanted a similar structure with muy, you would need an adjective, for example, Mi hermano está muy ocupado (“My brother is very busy”).

What does "descansar" mean?

Descansar means to rest. It’s a verb that expresses the action of taking a break to recover energy. In necesita descansar, it’s clear your brother needs to pause from working so hard.

Could we say "Mi hermano trabaja tanto que a veces necesita un descanso"?

Yes. Trabaja tanto que a veces necesita un descanso is also acceptable. However, necesita descansar focuses on the action of resting, while necesita un descanso uses a noun (un descanso) to express the need for a break. Both convey a very similar idea.