Question 1

Why is there a lo before the verb if the direct object is already at the beginning of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

This is a great example of topicalization or left-dislocation. When you move a direct object like ese fuerte apego por las reliquias to the front of the sentence to emphasize it, Spanish requires you to double it with a matching clitic pronoun. Since apego is a masculine singular noun, you must use lo right before the verb.

Question 2

Why does the sentence use por instead of a for "attachment to"?

Accepted Answer

The noun apego translates to attachment, fondness, or affection. To indicate what you are attached to, you can use either apego a or apego por. Both are completely natural and common in Spanish, even though English speakers often expect a because it directly translates to "to".

Question 3

Why is fuerte placed before apego instead of after it?

Accepted Answer

Placing a descriptive adjective before the noun in Spanish makes it sound more subjective, emotional, or expressive. By saying fuerte apego, the speaker is emphasizing the emotional intensity of the attachment as an inherent quality, rather than just objectively classifying it with apego fuerte.

Question 4

Could I use the preterite lo perdí instead of the present perfect lo he perdido here?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but the nuance changes slightly. Using the present perfect he perdido strongly connects the past action to the present, emphasizing the speaker's current state of mind (they are currently living without that attachment). If they said lo perdí, it would sound more like a closed, finished event that feels emotionally further in the past.

Ese fuerte apego por las reliquias lo he perdido.

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