Spanish · B2 · Everyday language
The Good Part About What Happened in Spanish
Focus on responding to whole situations or actions by using 'lo que' or 'lo cual'. In Spanish, sentential relative clauses help you comment on an entire previous statement to provide context or emotional warmth.
What you'll learn
- Express reactions to entire events rather than just single nouns.
- Use 'lo que' and 'lo cual' correctly to mean 'which'.
- Reinforce B2-level narrative past tenses while providing feedback to children.
Spanish phrases for the good part about what happened
Preparaste tu mochila tú solo, lo que facilitó nuestra mañana.
You packed your bag by yourself, which made our morning easier.
'Lo que' refers back to the entire action of packing the bag.
Tu amigo te esperó en la puerta, lo cual fue muy amable.
Your friend waited for you at the gate, which was very kind.
'Lo cual' is a common, slightly more formal alternative to 'lo que' for referencing a whole idea.
Preguntaste qué significaba la palabra nueva, lo que te ayudó a entender el cuento.
You asked what the new word meant, which helped you understand the story.
Use 'lo que' followed by a verb to show the consequence of an action.
Perdimos el autobús, lo que nos dio un poco más de tiempo para hablar mientras caminábamos.
We missed the bus, which gave us a little more time to talk while we walked.
This construction is perfect for finding the 'silver lining' in everyday mishaps.
Le dijiste a tu amigo que necesitabas un descanso, lo que les ayudó a ambos a disfrutar del juego.
You told your friend you needed a break, which helped you both enjoy the playdate.
'Les ayudó a ambos' is a natural way to say 'helped you both'.
El entrenador dejó que todos intentaran ser porteros, lo cual me pareció justo.
The coach let everyone try being goalkeeper, which seemed fair to me.
'Me pareció' is used for personal opinions or impressions.
Ahorraste algo de tu paga, lo que significa que estás más cerca de comprar la cometa.
You saved some of your pocket money, which means you are closer to buying the kite.
'Paga' is the common term for a child's allowance or pocket money in Spain; 'mesada' is used in many parts of Latin America.
Notaste tu propio error, lo que demuestra lo cuidadoso que estabas revisando.
You noticed your own mistake, which shows how carefully you were checking.
'Lo cuidadoso que' is a B2 structure meaning 'how careful'.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
lo que / lo cual
which (sentential relative)
Used to refer to a whole preceding phrase. They are interchangeable here.
facilitó
made easier / facilitated
A more sophisticated verb than 'hizo más fácil'.
paga
pocket money / allowance
Used for the small amount of money given to children regularly.
portero
goalkeeper
Refers to the position in sports like soccer (fútbol).
Sentential Relative Clauses
In English, we use 'which' to refer to a whole sentence. In Spanish, we use 'lo que' or 'lo cual'. Unlike English where the verb can move, in Spanish, the verb following 'lo que' usually stays in its standard position.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | [Statement] + , + lo que/lo cual + [Verb] | Llovió, lo que arruinó el picnic. |
| Gender | Neuter | We use 'lo' (neuter) because we are referring to an abstract concept or event, not a specific masculine or feminine noun. |
More examples
Compartiste tus juguetes, lo cual me hizo sentir orgullosa.
You shared your toys, which made me feel proud.
A warm way to praise behavior using this grammar.
Terminaste la tarea temprano, lo que significa que podemos ir al parque.
You finished your homework early, which means we can go to the park.
Shows logical consequence.