Spanish · C1 · Everyday language
What Actually Matters Here in Spanish
Effective communication with children, especially during disagreements, involves isolating the actual issue from distractions. Cleft sentences (e.g., 'It is X that...') allow you to place contrastive emphasis on the primary concern while acknowledging the child's perspective.
What you'll learn
- Master focus cleft structures using 'Es... lo que' or 'Es... el/la que'.
- Use contrastive emphasis to clarify specific concerns.
- Practice agreement between the focused noun and the verb in relative clauses.
Spanish phrases for what actually matters here
Es el tono de ese mensaje lo que me preocupa, no el hecho de que no estés de acuerdo.
It is the tone of that message that concerns me, not the fact that you disagree.
Uses 'lo que' because 'el tono' is the object of concern.
Es tu razonamiento lo que quiero entender, no solo tu respuesta final.
It is your reasoning that I want to understand, not just your final answer.
The focus is on the abstract noun 'razonamiento'.
Es el cambio inesperado de planes lo que me preocupa, no tu deseo de salir con amigos.
It is the unexpected change of plan that worries me, not your wish to go out with friends.
'Preocupar' functions like 'gustar'; the subject is the relative clause.
Son las interrupciones repetidas las que dificultan el trabajo en grupo, no la falta de ideas de nadie.
It is the repeated interruptions that make group work difficult, not anyone's lack of ideas.
Note the plural agreement: 'Son... las que'.
Es tu información privada lo que necesitamos proteger, no un perfil en línea con un aspecto perfecto.
It is your private information that we need to protect, not a perfect-looking online profile.
Clefting 'información' emphasizes the priority.
Es la hora a la que terminas de jugar lo que afecta tu sueño, no simplemente el nombre del juego.
It is the time you finish playing that affects your sleep, not simply the name of the game.
Uses 'la hora a la que' to specify the time of action.
Son las promesas que ambos hicimos las que deberían guiar esta discusión, no quién puede discutir por más tiempo.
It is the promises we both made that should guide this discussion, not who can argue the longest.
Plural agreement 'Son... las que' is essential here.
Es tu disposición a revisar tu opinión lo que muestra madurez, no estar de acuerdo conmigo siempre.
It is your willingness to revise your opinion that shows maturity, not agreeing with me every time.
'Muestra' agrees with 'lo que' (the willingness).
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
El tono
Tone
Referring to the manner of speaking or writing.
Razonamiento
Reasoning
The logical process behind a conclusion.
Dificultar
To make difficult
A more precise verb than 'hacer difícil'.
Disposición
Willingness / Disposition
Refers to a mental state of being ready to do something.
Focus Clefts with 'Ser'
To emphasize a specific noun, Spanish uses 'Es/Son' + [Noun] + 'el/la/los/las que' or 'lo que'. Unlike English which uses 'It is' for everything, Spanish must agree in number.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular Feminine | Es la [N] la que... | Es la intención la que cuenta. |
| Plural Masculine | Son los [N] los que... | Son los hechos los que importan. |
| Abstract/Neuter | Es [X] lo que... | Es tu actitud lo que molesta. |
More examples
No es el juguete lo que me importa, es tu seguridad.
It's not the toy I care about, it's your safety.
Contrastive negation followed by a cleft.
Son tus acciones las que definen la situación.
It is your actions that define the situation.
Demonstrates plural agreement with 'acciones'.