Use of tanto como and/or tan como to compare activities

Question

How would you say, "They work as much as they play," meaning quantity of time they spend?

¿«Trabajan tanto como juegan.»?

But if you say, "They work as well as they play," meaning with the same quality of enjoyment, ¿would you say,

«Trabajan tan como juegan.»?

Accepted Answer

Hola WilliamIf you compare "quality" it may need an adverb: "Trabajan tan bien como juegan" (i.e they work well and they play well) - is this what you meant? Inma

Answer

Could «tan como» indicate comparison of quality of activity, while «tanto como» shows comparison of quantity of activity?

Answer

This is just a logical guess, but if we look at the examples that use “tant@s”, they are all in the form “tant@s + noun + como”. So the construction functions as an adjective here.  On the other hand, if we look at the other construction, it is in the form “verb + tanto + como”. So it is modifying a verb, and therefore is an adverbial construction.

Answer

Thank you @Inma > ¡Gracias tanto! I will try to say this in Spanish > Tu respuesta parece justo y muy bastante. Yo he andado a otro luegos en el Internet y yo he hallado la misma respuesta, que debría poner «bien» entre «tan» y «como».