Using "lo" and "lo que"......I need more

As I listen and practice more and more, I often hear and/or read sentences that contain "lo que....." I'm still having trouble understanding exactly what this means. Is it referring to "something" or an abstract idea? Since I don't totally get it, I tend to avoid using "lo que....." when practicing spanish with my Ecuadorian friends. They tried to explain (in very, very limited english) what "lo que" means and, as I gathered, it refers to "that or what" in non-specific terms. Can Amy, Mauricio, or someone else give me some more examples of when and/or how to incorporate "lo que...." into sentences, so I'll at least understand better when I hear it being used and so that I can eventually use it as I gain speaking skills? Thanks in advance.

It basically means what, as in..."what I would like right now is a beer" (lo que quiero ahora es una cerveza}

Hi, BZ is totally right, "lo que" is used to specify or clarify what you are saying like lets say you tell someone you are tired "Estoy cansado" the other person says "siéntate" sit down, then you say no, what you really need is sleep. "No, lo que necesito es dormir"... or if you want to learn Spanish... "Lo que necesitas es practicar" What you really need is to practice. Hope that helps. Mauricio.

Mauricio and BZ, Thank you for the reply. Yes, it does make more sense to me in the examples you gave. Hopefully, I'll become more comfortable adding this to my conversations when needed.

My understanding is that "lo que" is used to indicate "what" when what is the subject of a sentence or the beginning of an object clause. 1. What I need is the shirt. Lo que necesito es la camisa. 2. Give me what I want. Dame lo que quiero.

Maybe this will help you, I don't know. I think of "lo que" as "that which" as in "Lo que quiero decir es..." "That which I want to say is..." Of course you wouldn't say it like that in English, but you could. In Spanish, "Lo quiero decir...." wouldn't make sense without the "que" because "Lo" looks like the subject of the sentence (a pronoun taking the place of a masculine noun) in English "It wants to say" and the verb wouldn't match the subject. That's why you need the "que". I hope that didn't make it worse. I just find it easy to think of "that which" when using "lo que." Mamasita

I have heard people say "Lo quiero decir" before when someone really wants to say something but someone else has told them not to. Then the person would say ... "Lo quiero decir" (I want to say it). Where as "Lo que quiero decir" means (What I want to say) Mauricio.

When would you use 'lo que' versus 'que'? I'm still confused.

[quo]*Quote from * dfess27 When would you use 'lo que' versus 'que'? I'm still confused.[/quo] It would be helpful if you provided some examples of sentences where you're confused. Before you do that, though, you should probably try to apply the explanations offered by taalibeen and mamasita. If you don't find those explanations sufficient, provide some examples so we can help.