Spanish · C1 · Everyday language
What Really Needs Our Attention in Spanish
Helping children focus on the core issue during busy conversations is key at a C1 level. Using cleft sentences—structures starting with 'Es...' or 'Son...'—allows you to emphasize specific information and reassure them about what truly matters, whether it's their effort, a specific concern, or a lost item.
What you'll learn
- Master the use of emphatic cleft sentences (Es... lo que/quien) to redirect focus.
- Practice subject-verb agreement in emphasis (Es singular vs. Son plural).
- Learn to contrast concerns using 'no' to clarify priorities for a child.
Spanish phrases for what really needs our attention
Es tu esfuerzo lo que me importa, no lo rápido que terminas.
It is your effort that matters to me, not how quickly you finish.
Uses 'lo que' to refer back to the abstract concept 'tu esfuerzo'.
Es la carpeta pesada lo que hace que tu mochila sea incómoda, no la fiambrera.
It is the heavy folder that makes your bag uncomfortable, not the lunchbox.
Note the use of the subjunctive 'sea' after 'hace que'.
Es tu tono lo que molestó a tu amigo, no tus ganas de jugar a otra cosa.
It is your tone that upset your friend, not your wish to play something else.
'Molestó' is in the preterite to describe a completed action.
Son estas dos palabras las que necesitamos practicar, no la página entera.
It is these two words that we need to practise, not the whole page.
Plural agreement: 'Son' and 'las que' match 'estas dos palabras'.
Es el cruce cerca de la panadería lo que me preocupa, no la calle más tranquila.
It is the crossing near the bakery that worries me, not the quieter street.
'Lo que' functions as the relative pronoun for the noun phrase.
Son tus zapatillas de casa las que estamos buscando, no tus deportivas.
It is your missing indoor shoes that we are looking for, not your trainers.
Plural agreement: 'Son' matches 'las zapatillas'.
Es el tiempo juntos lo que hace que la cita para jugar sea especial, no las meriendas caras.
It is the time together that makes the playdate special, not expensive snacks.
A common cultural term for playdate is 'cita para jugar' or simply 'quedar'.
Es tu propia elección lo que quiero oír, no solo lo que todos los demás están eligiendo.
It is your own choice that I want to hear, not just what everyone else is choosing.
Uses 'lo que' to emphasize the object of the desire (the choice).
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
that / what / the thing that
Used in cleft sentences when the focused element is a concept or thing.
zapatillas de casa
indoor shoes / slippers
A specific term for shoes worn only inside the house or school.
fiambrera
lunchbox
Also commonly called 'lonchera' in many Latin American countries.
cruce
crossing / intersection
Essential for safety-related conversations.
Cleft Sentences for Emphasis
To highlight one specific piece of information, Spanish uses the structure [Ser] + [Noun Phrase] + [Relative Pronoun]. Unlike English 'It is', the verb 'Ser' must agree in number with the noun.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular Emphasis | Es + [Singular Noun] + lo que/el que/la que | Es el tono lo que me molesta. |
| Plural Emphasis | Son + [Plural Noun] + los que/las que | Son estas palabras las que importan. |
| Contrasting | Es X... no Y | Es tu esfuerzo, no la nota. |
More examples
Son las verduras las que te dan energía, no los dulces.
It is the vegetables that give you energy, not the sweets.
Example of plural agreement.
Es tu seguridad lo que es importante para mí.
It is your safety that is important to me.
Emphasis on an abstract noun.