Spanish grammar
Lo de: a topic you both know about
Refer to a matter everyone already knows about with lo de.
From the scene Lo de Borja (The Borja business)
In short
Lo de + noun, name or infinitive points to a matter you both know. Lo de que + clause names the story.
Your turn
Which one goes with the thing with Montse?
Options: lo de Borja · lo de que la idea es suya · lo de Montse
Show answer
the thing with Montse → lo de Montse
How it works
Lo de + a noun, a name or an infinitive points to a matter both speakers already know.
Good to know
Lo de Borja (the Borja business), lo de la mudanza, lo de grabar a la gente.
Good to know
Lo de que + a clause names the story itself: lo de que la idea es suya. It is very common in speech.
Good to know
In formal writing, el asunto de or la cuestión de sound better.
the Borja business lo de Borja
the thing with Montse lo de Montse
Tomás
¿Lo de Montse? ¿Qué ha pasado?
The thing with Montse? What's happened?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
¿(blank)? ¿Qué ha pasado?
Options: Lo de Borja · Lo de que la idea es suya · Lo de Montse
Show answer
Tomás
¿Lo de Montse? ¿Qué ha pasado?
The thing with Montse? What's happened?
the story that the idea is his lo de que la idea es suya
Javi
Pues lo de que la idea es suya tiene fácil arreglo.
Well, this story about the idea being his is easy to sort out.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Pues (blank) tiene fácil arreglo.
Options: lo de Montse · lo de que la idea es suya · lo de Borja
Show answer
Javi
Pues lo de que la idea es suya tiene fácil arreglo.
Well, this story about the idea being his is easy to sort out.
since the move desde lo de la mudanza
Javi
Desde lo de la mudanza. Dice que lo guardaba "por si acaso".
Since the move. She says she was keeping it "just in case".
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Dice que lo guardaba "por si acaso".
Options: Desde lo de la mudanza · Lo de Borja · Lo de Montse
Show answer
Javi
Desde lo de la mudanza. Dice que lo guardaba "por si acaso".
Since the move. She says she was keeping it "just in case".
recording people lo de grabar a la gente
Tomás
Y lo de grabar a la gente... ¿eso también lo hace?
And recording people... does she do that too?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y (blank)... ¿eso también lo hace?
Options: lo de Borja · lo de Montse · lo de grabar a la gente
Show answer
Tomás
Y lo de grabar a la gente... ¿eso también lo hace?
And recording people... does she do that too?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| the Borja business | lo de Borja |
|---|---|
| the thing with Montse | lo de Montse |
| the story that the idea is his | lo de que la idea es suya |
| since the move | desde lo de la mudanza |
| recording people | lo de grabar a la gente |
More lines from the story
- JaviElena tiene tu cuaderno de bocetos. Con fechas.Elena has your sketchbook. With dates.
- TomásLo de Doña Elena no es espiar, Nuria. Es un servicio público.What Doña Elena does isn't spying, Nuria. It's a public service.