Breakdown of Para ser viejo, el aficionado es igual de veloz que tú.
ser
to be
tú
you (informal singular)
de
from / of
viejo
old
para
for
que
that / than
igual
equal
veloz
fast (swift)
el aficionado
the amateur
Questions & Answers about Para ser viejo, el aficionado es igual de veloz que tú.
Why do we use para in para ser viejo instead of por?
In Spanish, para is used to set a standard of comparison or to express a concession—meaning something is surprising given the circumstances. Para ser viejo translates to "for being old" or "considering he is old." If you used por ser viejo, it would mean "because he is old," making his age the reason he is fast, which changes the meaning completely!
Why does the sentence use igual de veloz que instead of tan veloz como?
Both phrases mean "as fast as" and can usually be used interchangeably. However, igual de followed by an adjective and que places a little more emphasis on the exact equality of the two things (literally "equally fast as"). Tan veloz como is your standard "as fast as" structure. Both are perfectly natural for a B1 learner to use here.
Why is it que tú and not que ti at the end of the sentence?
When making comparisons with que, you must use the subject pronouns (yo, tú, él, etc.) because you are essentially comparing two subjects performing the same action. Think of it as a shortened version of que tú eres (...as you are). You only use prepositional pronouns like mí or ti after actual prepositions like para, por, de, or a.
Does aficionado always mean amateur?
It depends on the context! Aficionado is frequently used to mean "fan" or "enthusiast" (someone who has an affinity for a hobby or sports team). However, in the context of sports, competitions, or skills, it is the standard translation for "amateur"—someone who plays for the love of the game, rather than as a paid professional.
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