Breakdown of Con lo oscuro que está, este espacio angosto es aterrador.
ser
to be
estar
to be (location/state)
con
with
que
that / than
el espacio
the space
este
this
oscuro
dark
lo
the ... thing (neuter article)
angosto
narrow
aterrador
terrifying
Questions & Answers about Con lo oscuro que está, este espacio angosto es aterrador.
Why use the structure con lo oscuro que instead of just saying porque está muy oscuro (because it is very dark)?
The phrase con lo + [adjective] + que does more than just give a reason. It emphasizes the extreme degree of the adjective. While saying porque está muy oscuro just states a factual cause, con lo oscuro que está stresses that the sheer intensity of the darkness is exactly what makes the space so terrifying.
Why is the verb está used here instead of es?
Even though the verb is wrapped in the con lo... que structure, the basic rules of ser versus estar still apply. We use está here because the darkness is a current state or condition of the environment (perhaps the lights are just off). If a room was permanently dark by design, such as being painted completely black with no windows, you might use es instead.
Is angosto the standard word for "narrow"?
Yes, angosto is widely used in Latin America to describe narrow physical spaces, paths, or objects. You might already be familiar with the synonym estrecho, which is universally understood but tends to be the preferred word for "narrow" in Spain.
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