Questions & Answers about ¿Qué tan macizo debe ser el bloque?
Why do we use qué tan here to mean "how"? Can't we just use cómo?
While cómo means "how" for manner (like in ¿Cómo estás?), it cannot be used directly before an adjective to ask about degree. In Latin America, to ask "how [adjective]" or "how [adverb]" (like "how solid," "how far," or "how fast"), you must use qué tan followed immediately by the adjective or adverb.
Could I use sólido instead of macizo?
Yes, you could say ¿Qué tan sólido...? and it would be understood perfectly. However, macizo specifically emphasizes that something is solid all the way through, meaning it is not hollow, or that it is bulky and heavy. It is a very precise, natural descriptive word for building materials or heavy objects like el bloque.
If I were asking about a feminine noun, like a table (la mesa), would macizo change?
I have sometimes seen cuán used to mean "how" with adjectives. Could I use that here instead of qué tan?