Breakdown of ¿Por qué os peleáis tanto?
os
to you (plural) / yourselves
por qué
why
tanto
as much, as many / so much
pelear
to fight (quarrel, brawl)
Questions & Answers about ¿Por qué os peleáis tanto?
Could I just say ¿Por qué peleáis tanto? without the os?
Yes, but adding the reciprocal pronoun os (from the verb pelearse) strongly emphasizes the mutual aspect: that you are fighting with each other. It makes the action feel more personal and reciprocal, rather than just a general statement about fighting.
Does os always mean "each other" when used with plural verbs?
Not always. It can also act as a reflexive pronoun meaning "yourselves" (for example, washing yourselves). However, context usually makes it clear. Since fighting is an action that involves opposing sides, os peleáis is naturally understood as a reciprocal action ("each other") rather than a reflexive one.
Why doesn't tanto have an -s at the end to match the plural subject?
Learn ¿Por qué os peleáis tanto and more in Spanish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free