Era exactamente lo que estaba buscando

Question

Esta era exactamente la que estaba buscando

Would this be the correct way to say:

"This is exactly what I was looking for"

Also, if it is correct then is the word "esta" superfluous?

you have lo que in title, but la que in description - 0074b507, Aug 19, 2009

see my comment below - Izanoni1, Aug 19, 2009

Answer 1

The sentence is correct, and the omission of "esta" is perfectly acceptable if it is clear for you and your audience which "female" thing or person you were talking about. For example, if you are looking at different beers (las cervezas), and you find the one you wanted, you don't need to say "esta", since they are all feminine, but you need to at least point at one, or saying it after someone has identified a specific one.

Answer 2

So is it?

Este era exactamente el que estaba buscando. (antecedent- masculine)

Esto era exactamente lo que estaba buscando. (Antecedent-nueter, unknown)

Esta era exactamente la que estaba buscando. (Antecedent- feminine)

(Éste, Ésta-I hate omitting the accents.)

And was his usage correct in the title that if you drop the (this) it becomes lo que? or do we have to know what the antecedent is to drop the (this) [as you mentioned] and, therefore, his title should use la que as his description did?

Answer 3

The context that you provide is somewhat lacking. If, for example, this is what you said (to the waiter/a friend) when the (let us suppose) the bottle of beer, was placed in front of you, you could say "(Esta) Es exactamente la que buscaba." (in which case, I would take your use of "esta" and "la" would refer (probably) to the "marca" de cerveza". You could also say "(Esto) Es exactamente lo que buscaba." (in which case "esto" and "lo" would would best be translated as "what/the thing that I was looking for"). Your use of "era", instead of "es, suggests that you are relating an incident (to your friends) after the fact (instead of reporting what you said at the time). Your use of "estaba buscando" instead of "buscaba" shifts the emphasis from "what you were seeking" or the fact that you were seeking something" to your act /process of seeking.

Answer 4

Thank you all for your generous and helpful responses to my question.

So is it?

Este era exactamente el que estaba buscando. (antecedent- masculine)

Esto era exactamente lo que estaba buscando. (Antecedent-nueter, unknown)

Esta era exactamente la que estaba buscando. (Antecedent- feminine)

I used the neuter in the title sentence because I was actually more concerned with the verb conjugation than with gender agreement of the subject with its pronouns.

In the case of my actual question, the feminine was meant to refer to a feminine noun that had been introduced in a sentence immediately prior to my example sentence. Judging from everyone's answers, I see that I should have provided that sentence as well in order to provide better context. Lo siento. La falta es mío.

Thanks so much for your answers to my question.