Los Usos de LO
Frequently we use “Lo” in different phrases with different meanings. But, what is LO?
Sometimes LO is an “Objeto Directo”, where LO replaces one thing: male and singular.
Example:
-¿ Cómo tomas el café? –à(How do you drink coffee? Coffee: male and singular, so we are going to replace it with LO)
- Lo (el café) tomo con azúcar.
-¿Lo prefieres con leche?
- No, lo prefiero solo
(The Objeto Directo always goes before the verb, with exception of Infinitivo or Gerundio, where it can goe after the verb: Ej: Prefiero tomarLO (one word) con azúcar/Estoy tomándoLO) The Objeto Directo can also be: Los, La or Las.
In other cases, LO is an article NEUTRO, and when you read LO you should think in “the thing or things”, femme or male)
Example:
-¿Qué es lo más loco que hiciste en tu vida?
-Lo más loco que hice fue tirarme en paracaídas desde un avión.
- ¿Qué es lo qué más te gusta de Buenos Aires?
-Lo que más me gusta de Buenos Aires son las mujeres.
-¿Qué fue lo mejor de la cena?
-Lo mejor de la cena fueron las papas.
-¿Qué es lo más extraño que comiste?
-Lo más extraño que comí fueron “cucarachas asadas”.
Anna Rivera
Hi Anna
I think you mean “Objeto Directo” unless I’m even more confused than I thought I was.
In English the “it” in I drink it is a direct object pronoun. Could you explain the difference in Spanish?
Muy bien, gracias!
What is the difference between using “lo que” and “qué”?
Thanks Phil! You are right, was a little wrong in my computer. LO is “Objeto Directo”.
Sean: is very different, you can not say: “que más me gusta de Argentina es el tango”, you have to say: “lo que más me gusta de Argentina es el tango”, because “lo que” is “the thing” like saying: “What i like about Argentine…..”, “lo mejor de la vida son los hijos”: “the best of life are…”, “lo más loco que hice….”: “the craziest thing i did….”.I hope this clarifies your doubts. Cheers,
Anna Rivera
Hi Hawley: there was a mistake of my computer, is “Objeto Directo”. I have corrected the post.
Anna Rivera
This was the best information/instruction I have received on teaching “lo”. I understand much more clearly now. Thank you so much. I would like to share with bloggers the method I used to effectvely learn how to use “estar” and “ser” which can sometimes be confusing. In terms of “estar”, most instructors give the standard rule to use “estar” when conditions are temporary and “ser” when they are permanent. I often found myself debating which conditions were permanent and which ones were temporary. What helped me to better determine which verb to use was the following: When using “estar” remember the conditions must be able to “quickly” change. Por exemplo….hot, cold, sunny, cloudy, happy, sad, good, bad, sick, well etc. Simply remembering the word “quickly” settled the matter. As for location I look for the prepositions “in” and “on” and the adverbs “here” and “there.” As for “ser” I reverse the rule by remembering that the adjectives rich, poor, fat, skinny, ugly, pretty, doctor, teacher,young and old can not “quickly” change. It takes time. We know there is liposcuction and cosmetic surgery but they both take “time” and can not “quickly” change. Description, profession, point of origin, identification, material, and possession typically do not change “quickly” and are more permanent. The debate wanes when I apply these two rules. Temporary has to “quickly” change and “permanent” can not. Hope this helps someone as much as it has helped me to apply the correct verb. I love this site.
Thanks Luci! i´m thinking a new post about Ser & Estar.
Anna Rivera
Great advice about ser and estar. But tell me, after a meal at a restaurant, la comida fue? o estuvo bien? I understand if it’s a restaurant that I’ve been going to and consider the food to (permanently) be good, i can say, “la comida en este restorán ES muy bien.” But when my friend joins me and is judging the meal just recently eaten, a meal just made after being ordered…fue rico? o estuvo rico? which is correct and how might the “quickly change” rule apply here.
Hi Rich! we say: “la comida en este restaurante es buena” (i know the restaurant, and i have been there before), but if i have recently eaten we said: “estuvo rica”, yes.
Anna Rivera
There will always be a time when you’ll want to debate but the general rule as I cited has worked for me and my students.
Great explanation Luci!!
Buen hecho!!
Gracias
Hi Anna,
I am a new subscriber to your newsletter and thoroughly enjoy the lessons.
Do you have an opinion of the Babylon Language School CD-based lessons that are offered at 3 levels from Basic through Advanced?
I have LSLC Nivel 1 y Nivel 2 and have learned quite a lot from them.
Thanks,
Ken
Hola Ken
I am not familiar with them.
Anna
Hola Anna, un comentario fuera de tópico:
¿Tienes un curso propio o planeas realizarLO?
Sería un verdadero placer entablar comunicación contigo…
Perdón por la forma informal de tuteraLA
LO agradecería infinitamente (el poder cononocerLA)
Atentamente:
Un admirador de Chihuahua