Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Mi hermano escucha lo que dice el entrenador en el gimnasio. - My brother listens to what the trainer says at the gym.

In Spanish, escuchar implies a more active process of paying attention, whereas oír is more passive and means simply perceiving sound. In this sentence, the idea is that your brother is paying attention to what the coach is saying, so escucha is the appropriate verb.

What does 'lo que' mean, and why is it used here?

Lo que can often be translated as "what" or "that which." It introduces a noun clause functioning as the direct object of escucha. Essentially, it means "the thing that the coach says." If you remove lo, you would lose the noun-like quality of the phrase.

Why is 'dice' in the indicative rather than the subjunctive mood?

Since the coach’s words are a fact or piece of information (something that the brother hears objectively), the indicative mood (dice) is used. Subjunctive would be used if there were doubt, uncertainty, or a subjective reaction to the statement being made.

Is 'el entrenador' the subject or an object here?

El entrenador is the subject of the verb dice within the noun clause (lo que dice el entrenador). In that clause, "el entrenador" performs the action of speaking. However, in the larger sentence, that entire clause is the direct object of the verb escucha.

Could I replace 'en el gimnasio' with 'al gimnasio' here?

No, because en el gimnasio indicates the location where the action (the coach speaking, your brother listening) takes place. Saying al gimnasio would usually mean "to the gym," referring to movement toward that place rather than an action happening there.

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