How to use "pasarlo bien/mal"

Question

Hi everyone,

I am having trouble figuring out how to use "pasarlo bien/mal". I understand that the "lo" (sometimes "la") is referring to a thing or an event. For example, "una fiesta".

Am I correct when I say:

La paso bien or Lo estoy pasando bien. - I'm having a good time.

La pasó bien 'She had a good time.

Lo pasamos mal - We had a bad time.

¿La pasaste bien? Did you have a good time?

Thanks to anybody who can explain this to me. I understand the use of indirect and object pronouns but this really threw me off!

Answer 1

My opinion as a non-native but advanced Spanish speaker would be that the expression pasarlo bien / mal is a general statement about having a good time. That is you always use lo in the expression because it does not refer to any particular noun, and in this case lo is neutral in reference.

For "I am having a good time" I would not say La paso bien or Lo estoy pasando bien. I would say "Me divierto." Although your examples may be correct.

You can tell someone "¡Qué lo pasa pases bien! (familiar) or ¡Qué lo pase bien! (formal) for Have a good time (See Julian's comment to me)

I hope a native speaker clarifies this for you as well.

You can look up the English word enjoy for other Spanish equivalents

However the forms pasársela bien and pasárselo bien exist to mean to have a good time. But I do not know what decides the usage of la versus lo.

I probably did not help you much but you made me think about these expressions.

Thank you! ¡Gracias!

I agree, Jubis, however to wish a good time "Qué" is always used first. For in general / abstract we use "lo", and "la" when the thing is already identified, ie: Voy a una fiesta. Qué la pases bien / a todo dar / a todo mecate - 005faa61, May 9, 2015

But one can still use "lo" with the fiesta senario and in this case the reference is to a good time, rather la fiesta - 005faa61, May 9, 2015

Thank you, Julian, both for the correction and for the clarification. - Jubilado, May 9, 2015

Thank you for your feedback Jubilado! - buenpescador, May 10, 2015

Answer 2

"Pasarlo bien o mal" is a short way of saying "pasar un buen/mal rato" So you will always say "Lo pasé bien/mal."

Ah the complications of Spanish! Here "pasé" looks like that "vos" form used in Argentina. - Jubilado, May 9, 2015

"Pasé" Is "I spent or pased" (everywhere) I think "pasás" for present tense (vos) is what you are referring to. - Daniela2041, May 9, 2015

As Curly Joe of the 3 stooges used to say, "I'm trying to think, but nothing happens!" I see now. Thanks, Daniela. I wonder if our "good fisherman" is getting as much out of this as I am. - Jubilado, May 9, 2015

Most of the time the questioners never give feedback. I write for the family. ♥♥ No importa que opina el pescador. Los pensamientos de mis compañeros en SD son lo que me importan. :) - Daniela2041, May 9, 2015

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I'm familiar with what "pasarlo bien/mal" means, but am not familiar with how to use it, although I am a little bit clearer now. To confirm, the event "passes me"? In other words: to me, the event is/was good?? - buenpescador, May 10, 2015