Using lo de que / lo de to refer to something already mentioned

Learn how you can refer to something mentioned with lo de que/lo de in Spanish

Lo de que + [conjugated verb]

In Spanish, when something has been mentioned in a conversation, we refer to it afterwards with:

Lo de que + [sentence with a conjugated verb]

For example:

Imagine that someone said yesterday "María is going to live abroad", we would refer to this later like this:

Lo de que María se va a vivir a Francia, ¿es verdad?That thing about María going to live in France, is it true?

If someone has mentioned "getting a new job", we could refer to this later on:

Lo de que tengas un trabajo nuevo me parece genial.That thing about you getting a new job is great.

"Lo de que" can be followed by the indicative or subjunctive, without changing the meaning of the sentence.

For example:

Lo de que yo pago todo era una broma. (present indicative)
Lo de que yo pague todo era una broma. (present subjunctive)
That thing about me paying for everything was a joke.

Lo de + infinitive/noun/adverb

We can refer to a previous comment/fact in the same way with:

Lo de + Infinitivo

Lo de + [noun]

Lo de + [adverb]

  • (with infinitive) 
    Lo de irse a Francia, ¿es verdad?That thing about going to France, is it true?
  • (with proper noun)
    Lo de María, ¿es verdad?That thing about María, is it true?
  • (with noun)
    Lo de su decisión, ¿es verdad?That thing about her decision, is it true?
  • (with adverb)
    Lo de ayer, ¿es verdad?What was said yesterday, is it true?

Remember:

Lo de que and Lo de are both used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned and mean exactly the same thing, but whether to use Lo de que or Lo de depends on what follows:

Lo de que + conjugated verb (indicative or subjunctive)

vs

Lo de + infinitive, noun, or adverb

Lo de que María se va a vivir a Francia, ¿es verdad? 

Lo de irse a Francia, ¿es verdad? 

Lo de María, ¿es verdad? etc.

Note that the demonstratives can also be used the same way, referring to the same thing:

Eso de irse de vacaciones sin los niños no está mal, ¿no?Going on holiday without the children is not a bad idea, is it?

Esto de salir a bailar cada sábado me encanta.I love this [new] thing where we go out dancing every Saturday.

Aquello de que se casaba por amor me sonaba un poco raro.That thing about him marrying for love sounded a bit suspicious.

Eso de que no tienes dinero no me lo creo.I don't believe what you're saying about you not having any money.

Here we are using the demonstratives to refer to something generally already mentioned or implied in the conversation. 

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Examples and resources

Lo de irse a Francia, ¿es verdad?That thing about going to France, is it true?
Lo de María, ¿es verdad?That thing about María, is it true?
Lo de su decisión, ¿es verdad?That thing about her decision, is it true?
Aquello de que se casaba por amor me sonaba un poco raro.That thing about him marrying for love sounded a bit suspicious.
Lo de que tengas un trabajo nuevo me parece genial.That thing about you getting a new job is great.
Eso de irse de vacaciones sin los niños no está mal, ¿no?Going on holiday without the children is not a bad idea, is it?
Esto de salir a bailar cada sábado me encanta.I love this [new] thing where we go out dancing every Saturday.
Eso de que no tienes dinero no me lo creo.I don't believe what you're saying about you not having any money.
Lo de que María se va a vivir a Francia, ¿es verdad?That thing about María going to live in France, is it true?
Lo de ayer, ¿es verdad?What was said yesterday, is it true?
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