Learn Spanish (Latin America): Este mes consumimos más kilovatios de los que esperábamos. - This month we consumed more kilowatts than we expected.

Este mes consumimos más kilovatios de los que esperábamos.

This month we consumed more kilowatts than we expected.

Breakdown of Este mes consumimos más kilovatios de los que esperábamos.

from / of

los

the (masculine plural)

esperar

to wait / to hope / to expect

que

that / than

Questions & Answers about Este mes consumimos más kilovatios de los que esperábamos.

Why is it de los que instead of just que or de lo que?

When comparing a specific noun (kilovatios) to a clause with a conjugated verb (esperábamos), Spanish uses de + [definite article] + que. Because kilovatios is masculine plural, we use los. If we were comparing an abstract idea or an adjective, we would use the neutral de lo que.

Why use the imperfect tense (esperábamos) instead of the preterite (esperamos) for "we expected"?

The expectation was an ongoing background state leading up to this point, which is exactly what the imperfect tense (esperábamos) describes. It contrasts with the preterite (consumimos), which states the final, completed fact of the consumption.

Since consumimos is the same in both present and past tense, how do we know it means "we consumed" here?

Context! Because we are comparing the consumption to a past expectation (esperábamos), it logically refers to an action that is already complete. If we meant "this month we are consuming more than we expect," the second verb would also be in the present tense (de los que esperamos).

I thought Spanish didn't use the letter "k". Why is it kilovatios and not "quilovatios"?