Lo + adjectives + que + subjunctive

Ashlyn T.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Lo + adjectives + que + subjunctive

Puedes escribir lo corto que sea

What does this sentence mean? I’m trying to say you can write however short it is. 

And why is there subjunctive following lo corto?

Can anyone direct me to the correct grammar for this ?

Asked 1 year ago
Ellen G.C1Kwiziq community member

I think you use the subjunctive because it is not known how short the writing will be, in the same way that the expression "como quieras" means "however you want" (see Como / cuando / donde / quien with indicative or subjunctive in Spanish for examples of differences in meaning with the use of the indicative or the subjunctive in subordinate clauses).

Also in English we would probably just say, "You can write (something), however short".

Ashlyn T.A1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks for the reply. It’s just that I can’t find the use of subjunctive with lo the pronoun in terms of expressing however short etc. not quite sure if it is a grammar pattern to use lo for that 

InmaKwiziq team member

Hola Ashlyn 

"lo" itself doesn't trigger a subjunctive, it will depend on what the phrase really means each time when you use lo.

Saludos

Lo + adjectives + que + subjunctive

Puedes escribir lo corto que sea

What does this sentence mean? I’m trying to say you can write however short it is. 

And why is there subjunctive following lo corto?

Can anyone direct me to the correct grammar for this ?

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