Question 1

Why do we use 'como' to mean 'since' or 'because' here, and can I put it in the middle of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

When como is used to explain the cause of something (meaning 'since' or 'because'), it has a strict rule: it must go at the very beginning of the sentence. You cannot say los turistas no pueden esquiar como nieva tanto. If you want to put the reason in the second half of the sentence, you must use porque.

Question 2

Can I just start the sentence with 'porque' instead of 'como'?

Accepted Answer

Generally, no. In Spanish, you avoid starting a statement with porque unless you are directly answering a 'why' question. If you want to state the reason first, you should start with como (as in this sentence) or another phrase like ya que (given that).

Question 3

The English translation says 'it is snowing', so why does the Spanish use 'nieva' instead of 'está nevando'?

Accepted Answer

While está nevando is perfectly fine, Spanish uses the simple present tense (nieva) for ongoing actions much more frequently than English does. This is especially common for weather verbs and general conditions.

Question 4

Why is it 'tanto' instead of 'tanta' if 'nieve' (snow) is a feminine word?

Accepted Answer

Because tanto here is an adverb meaning 'so much', modifying the verb nieva. Adverbs never change form to match gender or number. If it were modifying a noun, like saying 'so much snow', it would change to match the noun (tanta nieve).

Como nieva tanto, los turistas no pueden esquiar.

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