pero, sino and sino que

Question

Hi,I completed a test today on the above topic.  The sentence included the word 'cuidálo' but I cannot find it in my dictionary or the online dictionary I use.I assume it means to treat or take care of.Gracias.Colin

Accepted Answer

Hola Colin 
The sentence you saw on the test was this:
Puedes usar mi portátil pero cuídalo bien por favor. 
(You can use my laptop but treat it well please.)
Cuídalo is formed by "cuida" and "lo" meaning "look after it"
Cuidar means "to look after", and here it's using the imperative form of cuidar in the tú form: cuida
It has the object direct pronoun attached to it: "lo" (it, referring to the laptop) 
When we have an imperative affirmative with a pronoun, the pronoun is attached to the verb, so:
cuídalo 
The accent ´ that you see is because now it's a longer word and it is stressed on the antipenultimate syllable, and following accentuation rules it needs the "tilde". 
Here's a lesson about imperatives with pronouns. 
I hope it clarified it. 
Saludos
Inma

Answer

It is essentially two words together:  Cuida   lo.    Cuida is the 2nd person imperative of cuidar and lo is the masculine direct object.  Spanish puts the two words together in cuídalo.  The accent is needed to maintain the emphasis where it is in the verb form.

Answer

It is essentially two words together:  Cuida   lo.    Cuida is the 2nd person imperative of cuidar and lo is the masculine direct object.  Spanish puts the two words together in cuídalo.  The accent is needed to maintain the emphasis where it is in the verb form.