Learn Spanish (Latin America): Como la lluvia es intensa, suspendo la clase. - Since the rain is intense, I am suspending the class.

Como la lluvia es intensa, suspendo la clase.

Since the rain is intense, I am suspending the class.

Breakdown of Como la lluvia es intensa, suspendo la clase.

Questions & Answers about Como la lluvia es intensa, suspendo la clase.

Why does the sentence use Como instead of Porque to mean 'since' or 'because'?

In Spanish, when you want to start a sentence with 'because' or 'since' to explain the reason for something, you almost always use Como. You use porque when the reason comes in the middle of the sentence. For example, you would say Suspendo la clase porque la lluvia es intensa.

Does como always mean 'since' or 'because'?

Not always! You have probably seen como used to mean 'like' or 'as' (for example, blanco como la nieve - white as snow) or 'I eat' from the verb comer. You can tell it means 'since' here because it is at the very beginning of the sentence, setting up a cause and effect.

Why does it say suspendo (I suspend) instead of a continuous form like 'I am suspending'?

In Spanish, the simple present tense like suspendo is very commonly used to talk about things happening right now or decisions being made in the moment. While English strongly prefers the continuous 'I am suspending' for these actions, Spanish speakers frequently just use the simple present to express the exact same idea.

Could I say Como la lluvia está intensa instead of es intensa?