Question 1

Why do we use qué tan here instead of cómo to mean "how"?

Accepted Answer

In English, you use "how" for both manner ("how does it work?") and degree ("how clear is it?"). In Latin American Spanish, when asking about the degree or extent of an adjective like cristalino, you must use qué tan. Using cómo cristalino is grammatically incorrect.

Question 2

Since we are asking about how the material looks, why does the sentence use ser (tiene que ser) rather than estar?

Accepted Answer

While physical appearance can sometimes take estar, here we are asking about the inherent specifications or required properties of este material. Because being crystal clear is a defining characteristic this material must possess to fulfill its purpose, we use ser.

Question 3

Why is the subject este material placed at the very end of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish questions, the verb phrase strongly prefers to stay glued to the interrogative words. Because the question phrase qué tan cristalino and the verb periphrasis tiene que ser are both long blocks that need to stay together, they naturally push the subject este material to the end of the sentence.

Question 4

Does the adjective cristalino still have to match the noun when it is part of a qué tan question?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Because qué tan is just asking about the degree of the adjective, normal agreement rules apply. Cristalino is masculine singular to match este material. If you were asking about estas ventanas (these windows), it would change to match them: ¿Qué tan cristalinas tienen que ser estas ventanas?

¿Qué tan cristalino tiene que ser este material?

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