Comparisons: Use of "de" involving a clause?

Question

Context:

The preposition ¨de¨ is also used when the comparison involves a clause or a phrase with a new conjugated verb, usually introduced by el/la/los/las + que

English	Spanish
He brought more things than (the ones) he needed.	Él trajo más cosas de las que necesitaba.
I spend less money than I earn.	Gasto menos dinero del que gano.
There are less (fewer) people than I thought.	Hay menos gente de la que creí.
I had more fun than (what) I expected.	Me divertí más de lo que esperaba.

1st question:

In the above structures which words indicate el/la/los/las? Especially the 4th one?

My attempt:

In the 1st one the adjective - things/cosas uses "de las que"; feminine plural.
In the 2nd one the noun - money/dinero uses "de + el (del) que"; masculine singular.
In the 3rd one the noun - people/gente uses "de la que" feminine singular
In the 4th one the verb - fun/divertí uses "de lo que" nueter singular (?)

Let me know if my question isn't clear. - bandit51jd, Jan 21, 2014

Also, I've not really studied the superlatives. Is that what these are rather than comparisons? - bandit51jd, Jan 21, 2014

These are comparisons, and I think lo que is used properly. Here's a related link (slightly):http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/142946/more-than-you-might-expect - Helado_eclectico, Jan 21, 2014

Answer 1

My thoughts:

1. "Las" comes from "las cosas"
2. "El" comes from "el dinero"
3. "La" comes from "la gente"
4. "Lo que" is used when the relative pronoun refers to an abstract idea; in this case "fun".

source

=]

Fun isn't abstract... F is for friends that we make together, U is for U and I, N is for anywhere, anytime at all, in Spanish Dictionary! - Helado_eclectico, Jan 21, 2014

It looks like #4 is the tough one! Gracias, Alyssa! - bandit51jd, Jan 21, 2014

Your tought seem good to mee, Alyssa. - annierats, Jan 22, 2014

Answer 2

Using Helado's link it looks like the verb does use "lo que".