Question 1

Why does the sentence use de los que to mean "than" instead of just que?

Accepted Answer

In simple comparisons between two things, you use que. But here, you are comparing a noun (binoculares) to a conjugated verb phrase (pediste). When comparing a noun's quantity to an action or clause, Spanish requires del que, de la que, de los que, or de las que.

Question 2

How do I know to use de los que and not del que or de las que?

Accepted Answer

The linking phrase has to match the gender and number of the noun you are measuring. Since binoculares is a masculine plural noun, the matching phrase is the masculine plural de los que. If you were talking about a feminine plural noun like manzanas (apples), you would use de las que.

Question 3

Why is there no word for "for" after pediste?

Accepted Answer

The verb pedir inherently translates to "to ask for" or "to request". The concept of "for" is already built right into the verb, so adding a word like por or para after it is incorrect.

Question 4

I forgot how traer (to bring) works in the past tense. Why is it trajimos?

Accepted Answer

Traer is highly irregular in the preterite (completed past) tense. It changes its stem to include a "j". The conjugations are traje, trajiste, trajo, trajimos, and trajeron.

Question 5

English distinguishes between "less" and "fewer". Does Spanish do the same?

Accepted Answer

No, Spanish is simpler in this regard! You use menos whether you are talking about countable objects like binoculars ("fewer") or uncountable things like water ("less").

Trajimos menos binoculares de los que pediste.

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