Yo, lo and que pasa

[hwils66]

I have three questions:

1. When is the pronoun "yo" used with a verb. For example, doesn't the word "tengo" have the same meaning as the phrase "yo tengo?"

2. Should the pronoun "lo" precede the verb or follow it? Is this true of other objects?

3. Can the phrase "qúe pasa" be used to express "What's the matter" and also "What's going on?"

I guess this is more than three questions, but any help you could give me would be appreciated.

[Rusty]

1. You don't need to include the pronoun yo in most instances, as it is understood. It is included for emphasis, and to avoid ambiguity (in the imperfect tense, for example).

2. It can both precede or follow the verb. If the verb is conjugated (not in the infinitive form), the pronoun usually precedes it. If the verb is in the infinitive form, the pronoun is suffixed. If the verb is in the imperative mood, the pronoun is suffixed.
¿Lo ves? (Do you see him?)
No, no puedo verlo. (No, I can't see him.)
Llámalo (Call out for him.)

3. Yes. ¿Qué te pasa? is a more common way to ask what's wrong.

[hwils66]

Much obliged, Rusty.

[Marsopa]

I wondered this when I first started studying, but in English the verb conjugations are all the same: (I) talk, (you) talk, (we) talk, (they) talk...etc. The only one that we would be able to tell apart without the pronoun is the third person (s/he) talks.

So that's why we use them in English and in Spanish it is not necessary.

Marsopa

[Jessica]

Originally Posted by Rusty

1. You don't need to include the pronoun yo in most instances, as it is understood. It is included for emphasis, and to avoid ambiguity (in the imperfect tense, for example).

2. It can both precede or follow the verb. If the verb is conjugated (not in the infinitive form), the pronoun usually precedes it. If the verb is in the infinitive form, the pronoun is suffixed. If the verb is in the imperative mood, the pronoun is suffixed.
¿Lo ves? (Do you see him?)
No, no puedo verlo. (No, I can't see him.)
Llámalo (Call out for him.)

3. Yes. ¿Qué te pasa? is a more common way to ask what's wrong.

That's right.