Question 1

Since this lesson is about translating "how" to qué tan, could I say qué tan usar here?

Accepted Answer

No, you must use cómo. The phrase qué tan is strictly used before an adjective or an adverb to ask about degree or extent (like qué tan grande for "how big"). When "how" refers to the method or manner of doing an action, you always use cómo.

Question 2

Why does cómo have an accent mark here if the sentence isn't a question?

Accepted Answer

The word cómo is acting as an indirect question. When interrogative words (like qué, cuándo, or dónde) introduce an embedded question—often after phrases like no sé (I don't know) or me pregunto (I wonder)—they keep their written accent.

Question 3

How can I remember the gender of cincel?

Accepted Answer

You can spot that it is masculine because it is matched with the masculine words ese (that) and eléctrico (electric). As a general rule, nouns ending in -l tend to be masculine in Spanish, though there are a few common exceptions like la miel (honey) and la sal (salt).

Question 4

If I wanted to drop the noun and just say "I don't know how to use it", how would that change the sentence?

Accepted Answer

You would drop ese cincel eléctrico and replace it with the direct object pronoun lo. Because usar is in its infinitive form, you attach the pronoun directly to the end of the verb, giving you: No sé cómo usarlo.

No sé cómo usar ese cincel eléctrico.

Breakdown of No sé cómo usar ese cincel eléctrico.

Questions & Answers about No sé cómo usar ese cincel eléctrico.

Learn No sé cómo usar ese cincel eléctrico and more in Spanish