Breakdown of Si siempre piensas en lo negativo, la mente sufre.
en
in / on / at
siempre
always
pensar
to think / to plan
sufrir
to suffer
si
if
lo
the ... thing (neuter article)
la mente
the mind
negativo
negative
Questions & Answers about Si siempre piensas en lo negativo, la mente sufre.
Why do we say lo negativo instead of el negativo?
Lo is the neuter article. When you combine lo with an adjective like negativo, it turns the adjective into an abstract noun meaning "the negative part," "the negative thing," or "negative things in general." If you used el, it would have to refer to a specific masculine noun.
Does the adjective in lo negativo ever change gender? Could it be lo negativa since mente is feminine?
No, it never changes. When you use the neuter article lo to turn an adjective into an abstract concept, the adjective must always stay in its masculine, singular form. In this sentence, negativo is its own separate idea, not a description of la mente.
Why is "about" translated as en here? Shouldn't it be sobre?
In Spanish, the verb pensar (to think) almost always pairs with the preposition en when you want to say "to think about" someone or something. It is a set phrase you just have to memorize: pensar en.
Why does it say la mente instead of tu mente (your mind)?
This sentence is expressing a general truth, so "the mind" makes sense. However, even if the speaker meant "your mind," Spanish generally uses definite articles (la, el) instead of possessive words (tu, mi) when talking about the mind or body parts.
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