Este corredor trota tan rápido como su amigo.

This runner jogs as fast as his friend.

Breakdown of Este corredor trota tan rápido como su amigo.

• el amigo: the friend
• su: his
• este: this
• como: as

Questions & Answers about Este corredor trota tan rápido como su amigo.

Why does the sentence start with este? Does it mean this or that?

Este means this and is used for a masculine singular noun, here corredor.

• este corredor = this runner
• ese corredor = that runner
• aquel corredor = that runner over there

Spanish distinguishes these demonstratives more clearly than English often does.

Why is it corredor and not corredora?

Because corredor is the masculine singular form.

• el corredor = the male runner
• la corredora = the female runner

So if you were talking about a woman, you would say:

Esta corredora trota tan rápido como su amiga.

The adjective and demonstrative would also change to match.

Why is there no word for is in this sentence?

Because the sentence does not mean This runner is jogging... It means This runner jogs / is jogging...

In Spanish, the simple present trota can often translate as either:

• jogs
• is jogging

depending on context.

So trota already contains the subject and the verb idea. No separate is is needed.

What form is trota?