Degree thresholds (tan ... como para)

Expressing "Enough to" with tan ... como para

When you want to express that something has reached a threshold of intensity—such as being "so spicy as to" or "spicy enough to" cause a reaction—Spanish uses the structure tan + adjective + como para.

If the subject described by the adjective is the same one performing the resulting action, or if you are making a general statement, you follow como para directly with an infinitive verb.

You will frequently see this structure in the negative to express that a threshold has not been reached.

Changing Subjects with como para que

If the person or thing experiencing the outcome is different from the subject being described (e.g., "The stew isn't spicy enough for you to need milk"), you cannot use an infinitive. Instead, you must use como para que.

Because this structure sets up a potential or subjective outcome, the verb following como para que must always be conjugated in the subjunctive mood.

Thresholds in the Past

This structure works exactly the same way when telling stories in the past. Just remember that if the main clause is in a past tense, the verb following como para que must shift to the imperfect subjunctive to keep your timeline consistent.