What's the function of "lo" in "lo que"?

Question

Examples: >Lo que pasa es que el nino no fue a la escuela porque se fracturo el tobillo. > >Lo que quiere es una computadora para hacer sus tareas. > >Lo que dice es mentira. > >Lo que no entiendo es por que; no tiene hambre si no ha comido nada desde la manana. The pattern is "lo que (verb) es/son [que]". - What's the function of "lo" in "lo que"? - What is "lo" referring to?

Answer 1

I agree with Ian. In addition to his answer "lo" in these cases is a neutral pronoun used to replace nouns that don´t have specific gender like issues, situations, problems, etc. The conjunction "que" is a relative pronoun that connect two clauses and it refers to a statement or a noun expressed in another part of the sentence or previously. Let´s compare it with a feminine or masculine pronoun in similar sentences.

El que enseña bien español es el profesor Rodriguez. (in this sentence the pronoun "el" replaces "profesor Rodrigez")

La que entiende mejor es Paty. (the pronoun "la" replaces Paty)

In the original examples:

1. Lo que pasa es que el niño no fue a la escuela porque se fracturó el tobillo. (in this sentence the pronoun "lo" replaces the whole clause "el niño no fue a la escuela porque se fracturó el tobillo" and answers the question What happens to the boy?)
2. Lo que quiere es una computadora para hacer sus tareas. (in this sentence the pronoun "lo" replaces "una computadora para hacer sus tareas" and answers the question What does he or she want?)

Answer 2

Hi!

The closest English language analogue is basically "that which," but a smoother translation is usually "what..." as the start of an affirmative statement.

First example: "lo que pasa es que..." -> lit. "that which happens is that the boy..." and a smoother translation: "What happened is that the boy didn't go to school because he broke his ankle"

The reason that you can't just say "Que pasa es..." is that it sounds like you are either asking a question (without the proper accent) or wishing something in the subjunctive (but without the proper conjugation) for example: "que te pase bien"

The "lo" helps the other person understand that you are making a statement about a real situaiton.

Second example: "what he says he is a lie"

Third example: "what I don't understand is why she isn't hungry if she hasn't eaten since this morning.

Does that make sense?