These grammar examples dont appear toi follow the rule

Question

Reading grammar regarding the use of lo que and lo cual the following sentence is given as a correct example. Bailé con ella era lo que yo deseaba the explanation is: This is a correct example as it does not refer to anything specific that happened in the sentence, but surely it refers to who I danced with so that specific should mean you use lo cual? Similarly with this question: Panama tiene acceso a dos océanos lo que facilita su economía, again the fact it relates to Panama,s access to two oceans should again see lo cual being used? Its this type of example that appears to go against the grammar rule being explained that throws me. Any light thrown on this would be much appreciated, thanks.

Answer 1

Thanks, so if I wanted to say for example I don't know what I want in reference to say reading a menu in a café it would be No Sé lo que Quiero rather than No Sé que Quiero with Que having so many different uses throwing Lo Que into the mix just adds to the confusion, im actually doing a lot of reading/listening at the moment to try to get things in context, sometimes I feel grammar can actually bog you down with all the rules.

Sí. - annierats, Jul 23, 2015

Although either will be understood. No te preocupes tanto. - annierats, Jul 23, 2015

Answer 2

Lo, in this instance is the idea of what I desired. It was what I most wanted and the ' que ' belongs to the ' lo', if you see what I mean.

The same exactly for Panama, the 'lo' is an idea, an abstract 'it'.

Answer 3

http://www.spanishdict.com/topics/show/82

Lo cual can only be used to refer to something that has already been mentioned in the same sentence, but doesn't have a gender or number, so the neuter pronoun is preferred.

x

Lo que can be used any time lo cual is used except that it can also be used to refer to something that has not been brought up before in the same sentence. It can also be used at the beginning of a sentence.

Sorry Bosque, we did this at the same time but I note we're of the same opinion. You can have one of my medals. - annierats, Jul 23, 2015

Answer 4

Thanks, so if I wanted to say for example I don't know what I want in reference to say reading a menu in a café it would be No Sé lo que Quiero rather than No Sé que Quiero

I am an intermediate level learner, so you might want to wait for confirmation on this, but as I understand it:

No sé lo que quiero= no sé qué quiero= I don’t know what I want

But

No sé que lo quiero= I don’t know that I want it.

The quote here should have an accent on the first qué to distinguish it as meaning what, not that. Note the use of lo que in the second.

Bosque, you know, any of these versions will be understood, even if not correct. - annierats, Jul 23, 2015

Well of course, since Spanish speakers don't bother with the accents half the time, but at least I don't say qué quiero quite the same as que quiero and it helps me pronounce it correctly. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 23, 2015

You're very right about the 'no sé que lo quiere'. I love the picture, excellent. - annierats, Jul 25, 2015