Spanish · B2 · Everyday language
Everything that counts in Spanish
At the B2 level, precision is key. This guide helps you correctly link indefinite pronouns like 'todo', 'algo', and 'nada', as well as neuter superlatives, to relative clauses using 'que' and 'lo que'. This is essential for talking about abstract ideas and specific details clearly.
What you'll learn
- Master the use of 'lo que' after 'todo' and 'nada' for abstract concepts.
- Corrects use of relative 'que' after 'algo'.
- Identify how to link neuter superlatives like 'lo mejor' to further descriptions.
- Differentiate between referring to a specific item and a whole idea.
Spanish phrases for everything that counts
Todo lo que importa está escrito en esta página.
Everything that matters is written on this page.
'Todo lo que' is the standard way to say 'everything that' when referring to abstract concepts.
¿Hay algo que todavía te parezca poco claro?
Is there anything that still seems unclear to you?
After 'algo', we usually just use 'que' as the relative pronoun.
Nada de lo que mencionaste suena imposible.
Nothing that you mentioned sounds impossible.
Adding 'de' before 'lo que' is common with 'nada' to specify 'nothing out of the things that'.
Eso es lo mejor que ha pasado en toda la semana.
That's the best thing that happened all week.
'Lo mejor que' uses the neuter article 'lo' to nominalize the adjective 'mejor'.
Revisemos todo lo que va en el sobre.
Let's check everything that belongs in the envelope.
'Va en' is a natural way to say 'belongs in' or 'goes in' for physical objects.
Hay algo que no encaja con tu explicación.
There's something that doesn't fit your explanation.
The verb 'encajar' is perfect for saying something 'fits' or 'matches' logically.
Eso es lo más útil que he aprendido hoy.
That's the most useful thing I've learnt today.
Superlative construction: lo + más + adjective + que.
No se ha quedado atrás nada de lo que necesitamos.
Nothing that we need has been left behind.
'Quedarse atrás' is the common phrasal verb for being left behind.
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Todo lo que
Everything that / All that
Required for abstract 'everything'; 'Todo que' is incorrect.
Algo que
Something that
Used when the 'something' is a specific but unnamed object or idea.
Nada de lo que
Nothing that / None of what
A very common B2 structure to sound more natural than just 'nada que'.
Lo mejor / Lo más
The best / The most
The neuter 'lo' makes the adjective function as a noun (the thing that is...).
Neuter Relative Pronouns
In Spanish, when we refer to an abstract idea, a situation, or an indefinite pronoun (todo, nada), we use the neuter relative 'lo que' rather than just 'que'.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| After 'Todo' | Todo + lo que | Todo lo que dijo es verdad. |
| After 'Algo' | Algo + que | Tengo algo que decirte. |
| After Neuter Superlatives | Lo [adj] + que | Lo más difícil que hice fue... |
More examples
Lo que más me gusta es el chocolate.
What I like most is chocolate.
Starting a sentence with 'lo que' translates to 'what' or 'the thing that'.
No entiendo nada de lo que está pasando.
I don't understand anything that is happening.
Notice the use of 'de lo que' to bridge 'nada' and the action.