Question 1

Why does this sentence use yo instead of mí? In English we say "like me."

Accepted Answer

In Spanish comparisons, que connects two clauses. The sentence is essentially a shortened version of Piensa igual que yo pienso (He thinks the same as I think). Because yo is the subject of that unsaid verb, you must use the subject pronoun yo, not the object pronoun mí.

Question 2

Since the current lesson focuses on más/menos de lo que, why isn't there a de lo que in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The de lo que structure is strictly for clausal comparisons of inequality (more than or less than), like Piensa más de lo que crees (He thinks more than you believe). This sentence is a comparison of equality (the same as), which simply uses igual que without a de.

Question 3

What is the difference between saying Piensa igual que yo and Piensa como yo?

Accepted Answer

Both are grammatically correct and very similar in meaning. Piensa como yo simply means "He thinks like me." Using igual que adds a little more emphasis on the exactness, translating closer to "He thinks just like me" or "He thinks exactly the same as I do."

Question 4

Could I use igual a here and say Piensa igual a mí?

Accepted Answer

No. When comparing actions or how something is done, as with the verb pensar, you use the adverbial phrase igual que. The phrase igual a is used to compare nouns or pronouns directly against each other, like Su coche es igual al mío (His car is the same as mine).

Piensa igual que yo.

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