Question 1

How does the structure con lo peligroso que es work to mean "given how dangerous it is"?

Accepted Answer

This is a common colloquial structure in Spain: con lo + adjective or adverb + que + verb. It expresses a cause or a concession based on the intensity of something. You can think of it literally as "with the dangerous that it is," but it translates naturally to "given how dangerous it is" or "considering how dangerous it is."

Question 2

Since "how dangerous it is" sounds like a subjective judgment, shouldn't the verb es be in the subjunctive?

Accepted Answer

No, and this is a great catch! The structure con lo [adjective] que... takes the indicative mood (like es here) because it declares a known, undeniable fact. Even though it highlights an extreme degree, you are stating the danger as an established reality that justifies the rest of the sentence, rather than expressing doubt or an emotional reaction to it.

Question 3

Why use the neuter article lo instead of el before peligroso?

Accepted Answer

We use the neuter article lo before an adjective to talk about an abstract concept or degree. In this specific formula, lo + adjective + que is used to mean "how [adjective]." If we used el peligroso, it would refer to a specific masculine noun, meaning "the dangerous one."

Question 4

Could I just say invocó la maldición without adding él mismo?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the sentence is grammatically complete without it. Adding él mismo (he himself) acts as an intensifier. It emphasizes that he personally performed the dangerous act of summoning the curse, which heightens the impact of the contrast set up in the first half of the sentence.

Con lo peligroso que es, invocó la maldición él mismo.

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