Lo/la vamos a pasar bien

[dupond]

Hi everyone

What does the "lo" refer to in "lo vamos a pasar bien"? Does it refer to some activity? If so, does the gender of the activity determine whether you use "lo" or "la"? E.g. If we're talking about una fiesta, we'd say, "La vamos a pasar bien."


Thanks

[Rusty]

The phrase in question means 'we're going to have a good time'. In this phrase, the pronoun 'lo' is used in Spain. Most of the other countries where Spanish is spoken choose to use 'la'.

In either case, the pronoun refers to the activity. Since 'la' is habitually used in Latin America (mostly), and 'lo' is habitually used in Spain, it doesn't matter what the activity is, gender-wise. Simply use the same pronoun that the native speakers are saying. When in Rome ...

[dupond]

Cheers. Thanks

[dupond]

Is there any difference between saying "Lo pasé bien" and "Me lo pasé bien"?

[Rusty]

Changing 'pasarlo/la' to the pronominal form ('pasárselo/la') isn't done universally. When used that way, there is the perception that the subject contributed to the activity in some way that made it 'go well' (but wouldn't be used if things 'went poorly' because the Spanish don't take the blame). It could also be that the person is giving emphasis to the fact that things went well for him/her.

Listen to the native speakers. If they're using the pronominal form a number of times when talking about varying situations, it's a regional thing and you can mimic how they're using it.

[dupond]

Thanks