Using Lo Que to Form Noun Phrases in Spanish

Using Lo Que to Form Noun Phrases in Spanish A common way of forming a phrase that acts as a noun is to use lo que, as shown in the following excerpt from a news article. Learn how to use lo que to form noun phrases in Spanish along with its suggested translation and discover key notes on its vocabulary and grammar. Excerpt Antognini y otros colegas europeos y de EE UU presentan esta semana en science un estudio que seà ±ala que el protà ³n es ms pequeà ±o de lo que se cree. Los resultados confirman lo que el mismo equipo ya publicà ³ en Nature en 2010: El protà ³n parece ser 0,00000000000003 milà ­metros menor de lo que pensaban los investigadores. Source: ABC.es. Retrieved Jan. 25, 2013. Suggested Translation Antognini and other European and American colleagues are presenting a study in science this week that indicates that the proton is smaller than what is believed. The results confirm what the same research team already published in Nature in 2010: The proton seems to be 0.00000000000003 millimeters smaller than what researchers thought. Key Grammatical Issue Lo que, used in this selection three times, is a common way of starting a phrase that functions as a noun. It is best to think of lo que  as a single word, a type of neuter relative pronoun. When lo que refers to an idea or abstract action, it can almost always be translated as what or that which. Examples of everyday phrases using lo que in this way include: Lo que pasa;  what is happening.Lo que hemos hecho; what we have done.Lo que me preocupa; what is worrying me.Lo que sabemos; what we know.Lo que es inolvidable; what is unforgettable. The thing that can be used in translation when referring to something more specific: Lo que tiene seis ojos, the thing that has six eyes. Other Notes on Vocabulary and Grammar EE UU is a plural abbreviation for Estados Unidos.Ms pequeà ±o and menor are examples of comparisons of inequality.Se cree is a conjugated reflexive form of creer, a verb meaning to believe or to think. The reflexive here is used like the passive voice in that it indicates something is believed without explicitly stating who is doing the believing.Equipo in Spanish refers to a group of people working together for a common purpose. Usually translated as team, it is applied to non-sports activities more often than the English word is. Research team was used in translation for clarity.Ya is an adverb usually used to add emphasis. Already was used in the translation as a way of emphasizing that preliminary findings had been published earlier.See lessons on parecer, ser and pensar for more about the usage of those verbs.Note the use of the comma in the number where English would use a period. The original sentence came from a publication in Spain; had it come from Mexico, the number woul d have been rendered with a period.