10K+ students - 4.8/5
Learn with a teacher Learning materials included Practise conversation

Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to express qualities and opinions in Spanish using "Lo + adjetivo," such as "lo bueno" (the good) and "lo triste" (the sad), to highlight specific aspects clearly and naturally.
  1. The adjective usually goes in its normal form and does not change with Lo.
  2. It is used to highlight something specific.
  3. It can be used with both positive and negative adjectives.
Lo + Adjetivo (Lo + Adjective)Uso (Use)Ejemplo (Example)
Lo malo (The bad)Hablar de algo importante (To talk about something important)Lo malo de esta ciudad es que la comisaría de policía está lejos.  (The bad thing about this city is that the police station is far away.)
Lo bueno (The good)Dar una opinión (To give an opinion)Lo bueno de este hotel es que tienes todo incluido en el precio. (The good thing about this hotel is that you have everything included in the price.)
Lo triste (The sad thing)Hablar de tus emociones (Talking about your emotions)Lo triste es que no puedes disfrutar de las vacaciones por la tormenta. (The sad thing is that you can’t enjoy the holidays because of the storm.)
Lo divertido (The fun)Hablar de algo interesante (Talking about something interesting)Lo divertido de las vacaciones es encontrar actividades divertidas a pesar de todo. (The fun thing about the holidays is finding enjoyable activities despite everything.)

Exercise 1: "Lo" + adjectivo

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

lo complicado, Lo único, Lo malo, lo rápido, lo mejor, lo caro, lo tranquilo, Lo bonito

1.
... del ambiente es la tranquilidad del bosque.
(The nice thing about the atmosphere is the tranquility of the forest.)
2.
Este hotel es ... para las vacaciones.
(This hotel is the best for the holidays.)
3.
Me encanta ... que es este pueblo.
(I love how peaceful this town is.)
4.
Es increíble ... que es este restaurante.
(It's incredible how expensive this restaurant is.)
5.
Me sorprende ... que resuelven los problemas.
(I am surprised at how quickly they solve problems.)
6.
Es fascinante ... que puede ser viajar.
(It is fascinating how complicated travelling can be.)
7.
... es que el vuelo se ha cancelado.
(The bad thing is that the flight has been cancelled.)
8.
... que no me gusta es que hay mucho tráfico.
(The only thing I don’t like is that there is a lot of traffic.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence using 'Lo' + adjective to express a quality of something. Look at the options and select the one that is well constructed according to the rules for using 'Lo'.

1.
Incorrect: the adjective should not agree in plural after 'Lo', it is always used in singular.
Incorrect: the verb and adjective must agree with the impersonal structure of 'Lo'; here 'están' is incorrect.
2.
Incorrect: the adjective must not be plural after 'Lo'.
Incorrect: the adjective does not change gender after 'Lo'; it always remains masculine singular.
3.
Incorrect: the adjective should not be used in plural after 'Lo'.
Incorrect: the verb must be singular to agree with 'Lo triste'.
4.
Incorrect: the verb must agree in singular with 'Lo difícil'.
Incorrect: the adjective is not used in plural after 'Lo'.

Understanding "Lo" + Adjective in Spanish

This lesson focuses on using the structure "Lo" + adjective, a common way to express qualities or characteristics of things or situations in Spanish. It is particularly useful for highlighting specific traits, feelings, or opinions in an impersonal way.

What Does "Lo" + Adjective Express?

The combination "Lo" + adjective is used to talk about generalized qualities or abstract ideas related to something. The adjective stays in its masculine singular form and does not change regardless of the noun or subject.

Examples of Common Expressions

  • Lo malo – To talk about something important but negative. Example: Lo malo de esta ciudad es que la comisaría de policía está lejos.
  • Lo bueno – To give an opinion, usually positive. Example: Lo bueno de este hotel es que tienes todo incluido en el precio.
  • Lo triste – To express emotions related to sadness or disappointment. Example: Lo triste es que no puedes disfrutar de las vacaciones por la tormenta.
  • Lo divertido – To talk about something interesting or enjoyable. Example: Lo divertido de las vacaciones es encontrar actividades divertidas a pesar de todo.

Important Grammar Points

  • The adjective after "Lo" remains in masculine singular form – it does not agree in gender or number.
  • This structure is impersonal, meaning it does not refer to a particular subject but to a general idea.
  • It can be used with both positive and negative adjectives to emphasize qualities.

Practical Tips for Learners

When using "Lo" + adjective, focus on the abstract quality rather than a specific item. This can help express general opinions or feelings smoothly and naturally in conversation.

Differences and Notes for English Speakers

In Spanish, "Lo" + adjective is a way to turn adjectives into abstract nouns that talk about qualities or situations, a concept that English often conveys with "the" + adjective or with phrases like "what is ..." or "the thing that is ...". For example:

  • "Lo importante" can be translated as "The important thing" or simply "What is important."
  • "Lo bueno" means "The good thing" or "What’s good."

This construction is quite flexible and is a neat way in Spanish to generalize about qualities without specifying a noun.

Useful Words and Phrases

  • Lo importante – The important thing
  • Lo necesario – What is necessary
  • Lo difícil – The difficult part
  • Lo mejor – The best thing
  • Lo peor – The worst thing

Remember, the adjective always remains in masculine singular form after "Lo," which is a key difference from typical adjective-noun agreement in Spanish.

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage