Lo que + verb + subject for emphasis
How to emphasise an action in Spanish with lo que + verb + subject
If we want to express "how much something happens" in a sentence, in a context that implies surprise for the speaker, we can use this structure in Spanish:
¡Lo que + verb +subject!
This way, the speaker emphasises/intensifies the action.
Here are some examples:
¡Lo que me ha costado este bolso!This handbag cost me so much!
¡Lo que charla tu madre!Your mum talks so much!
¡Lo que nos van a cobrar por este almuerzo!They are going to charge us so much for this lunch!
It is more common to find this structure used in exclamatory sentences but they can also be part of a statement or a question. For example:
¿Has notado lo que ha bebido Juan?Did you notice how much Juan has drunk?
No había notado lo que habíamos pagado por el vino.I hadn't noticed how much we'd paid for the wine.
See also La de + noun + que + verb to intensify and Using neuter article Lo + adverb/adjective + que + verb in Spanish
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