Articles

Welcome to our grammar lesson about the Spanish neuter article lo. The neuter article lo is less frequent than the masculine "el" and the feminine "la". But it has some uses that the Spanish learner needs to know. Two sentences including the article "lo" In this lesson, we will learn when to use the article lo, providing example sentences. At the end you'll find an Exercise for practice. "lo" meaning "the thing" The article lo can serve as a substitute for "la cosa" (the thing). By using "lo", we can make sentences shorter: La cosa importante es estudiar mucho.Lo importante es estudiar mucho.Both sentences mean "The important thing is to study a lot". By changing "la cosa" for "lo", the sentence becomes shorter.La cosa más bonita de la ciudad es este parque.Lo más bonito de la ciudad es este parque.Both mean "The most beautiful thing in the city is this park".No entiendo la cosa que dices.No entiendo lo que dices.Both mean "I don’t understand what you say (the thing you say)".La cosa que quiero es jugar.Lo que quiero es jugar.Both mean "What I want (the thing that I want) is to play". Note: When lo has this use, all adjectives connected with it must be in masculine singular form. Example: "La cosa más bonita" becomes "lo más bonito". "lo" to emphasize a quality We can also use lo before an adjective in some sentences that emphasize a certain quality. In this type of sentence, after lo and the adjective, we must place the word que: Es increíble lo inteligente que eres.It’s amazing how smart you are.Me gusta lo despacio que hablas.I like how slowly you speak. Note: When lo has this use, it can precede adjectives in any form: masculine, feminine, singular and plural. For example: Me sorprende lo buena que eres.I'm amazed at how good you are. (talking to a woman) No me gusta lo groseros que sois.I don't like how rude you guys are. Practice Exercise Fill the gaps using “lo” and any other words needed, so that both sentences of each pair have the same meaning: 1) I like exotic things:Me gustan las cosas exóticas.Me gusta __ ___.2) We've done the most difficult thing in the world:Hemos hecho la cosa más difícil del mundo.Hemos hecho __ ___ ____ del mundo.3) The ring is the most expensive thing in this jewelry:El anillo es la cosa más cara en esta joyería.El anillo es __ ___ ____ en esta joyería.4) It's the best thing:Es la mejor cosa.Es __ ___.5) Francisco is interested in all things political:A Francisco le interesan todas las cosas políticas.A Francisco le interesa ____ __ _____ . Solutions:1) lo exótico2) lo más difícil 3) lo más caro 4) lo mejor5) todo lo político A different "lo": the direct object pronoun This lesson has been about neuter article "lo". But there is another "lo" in Spanish which is not an article, but a direct object pronoun. Click here to learn Direct Object Pronouns!

Spanish neuter article “lo”

Spanish Feminine nouns with Masculine articles

Spanish Indefinite Articles

Spanish Definite Articles