Spanish language Q&A Forum

wow, thanks for the good C1 dictation with interesting content and decent narration speed to practice dictation.  

This same issue was asked 5 years ago, and a  new specific lesson would be helpful. (more than the current article on neutral lo)

Here is what I asked ChatGPT

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tell me more about the use of "lo" in  "lo suficiente"  and "lo habitual", with grammar explanation and more examples of both

ChatGPT said:

The word "lo" in phrases like "lo suficiente" and "lo habitual" serves as a neutral article that turns adjectives, adverbs, or phrases into abstract nouns. This structure is often used to express qualities or degrees of something in a general, impersonal way.

Explanation of "lo" in these phrases:

Lo suficiente: Here, "lo" makes the adjective "suficiente" (sufficient) into a concept or a general idea. Instead of referring to something specific, "lo suficiente" means "enough" in a more abstract way, as in "the sufficient amount."

Example: No hemos hecho lo suficiente para resolver el problema.

(We haven't done enough to solve the problem.)

Lo habitual: Similarly, "lo" turns the adjective "habitual" (usual) into an abstract noun, referring to "what is usual" or "the usual thing."

Example: Llegó tarde, como lo habitual.

(He arrived late, as usual.)

Hola Inma!

Es correcto o no usar SI + PRETÉRITO PLUSCUAMPERFECTO DE SUBJUNTIVO + FUTURO SIMPLE / CONDICIONAL SIMPLE como en la siguiente oración:

Si el próximo jueves no hubiera / hubiese llegado el paquete, reclamaremos / reclamaríamos a la oficina de Correos.

Gracias,

Miltcho

What is the difference difference between Además and Tambien

What's the difference?

I'm having difficulty distinguishing how to phrase the following two sentences in Spanish:

My old friend is visiting me today.  (meaning he and I have been friends for a very long time.)

My old friend is visiting me today. (meaning my friend is very old in years.)

A better translation of this might be: "Take into account the proposal".  You could also say "Have account of the proposal" but it sounds a bit 19th century.

Fill in the blanks with the correct comparative.  You will use either más adj. que, menos adj. que or tan adj. como.  You might also have to use one of the four exceptions - mejor que, peor que, mayor que or menor que.  Remember that the adjective has to agree with the FIRST item in NUMBER and GENDER.  Do not change the adjective (from small to big, etc.).

examples:  Un huevo es _____ una calabaza.  (grande)      You write:  menos grande que

                    Mi escuela es _______ tu escuela.  (bueno)        You write:  mejor que or menos buena que or tan buena como (I will have all three on opinion questions.)

1.  Mi hermano es  mi hermana.  (alto)

2.  Rhode Island es  Texas.  (pequeño)

3.  El abuelo es  el nieto.  (viejo)

4.  McDonald's es  Chick-fil-A.  (malo)

5.  Una ensalada es  pan dulce.  (nutritivo)

6.  Los jugadores de básquetbol son  los niños pequeños.  (alto)

7.  Los gatos son  los perros.  (bueno)

8.  La clase de español es  la clase de matemáticas.  (fácil)

9.  Yo soy  mis padres.  (joven)

10.  Mi madre es  mi padre.  (estricto - means strict) 

I understand that some verbs are stem changing. In the example of "e" to "ie" verbs, the last "e" of the stem turns into "ie". This rule seems to be true for verbs like nevar (nieva), but why not verbs like "tener"?