What reference words are: Reference words (las palabras de referencia) are little words like «lo», «la», «los», «las», «esto», «eso», «este», «allí» or «su» that replace or point back to something already said earlier in the text. Writers use them so they don't repeat the same noun again and again. In Paper 2, a question may ask what one of these words refers to — your job is to name the noun or idea it points back to.
- la palabra de referencia
- reference word (a word that points back to something said before)
- el referente
- the referent — the noun or idea the word points to
- el pronombre
- pronoun (e.g. «lo», «la», «les» — stands in for a noun)
- referirse a
- to refer to (point back to)
- sustituir / reemplazar
- to replace / to substitute one word for another
- concordar (en género y número)
- to agree (in gender and number) with the noun it replaces
Name the noun, not the word: The question «¿A qué se refiere “lo”?» does NOT want you to repeat «lo» — it wants the actual noun or idea «lo» stands for. Always answer with the thing it points to (e.g. «el perro»), found earlier in the text.
What each kind points to: Different reference words point to different things. Object pronouns point to a noun; «esto/eso» point to a whole idea; «este/ese» point to the nearest noun; place and possessive words point to a place or an owner. This table is your map.
| Palabra de referencia | Suele referirse a |
|---|---|
| lo / la / los / las | un sustantivo ya mencionado (objeto directo) |
| esto / eso | una idea o frase anterior (no un solo sustantivo) |
| este / ese | el sustantivo más cercano |
| allí / ahí | un lugar mencionado |
| su / sus | el poseedor mencionado (de quién es algo) |
It must agree: A reference word agrees in gender and number with the noun it replaces. «La» replaces a feminine singular noun (la carta → la recibió); «los» replaces a masculine plural noun. If your answer doesn't agree, it's the wrong referent.
Learn what examiners really want
See exactly what to write to score full marks. Our AI shows you model answers and the key phrases examiners look for.
Try AI Feedback Free7-day free trial • No card required
A reliable routine: To find what a reference word points to, work backwards from it. Find the word, read what comes just before, identify the noun or idea, then substitute it to check the sentence still makes sense. Because you can re-read, this is quick and safe.
Track the reference — 5 steps
1
Find the reference word
Locate the word in the text the question asks about (e.g. «lo», «esto», «allí»).
2
Read the sentence(s) just before it
The referent almost always appears earlier — read back one or two sentences.
3
Identify the noun or idea it replaces
Decide which noun or idea fits — and check it agrees in gender and number.
4
Substitute it
Put the noun back in place of the reference word — does the sentence still make sense?
5
Answer with that noun/idea
Give the noun or idea it points to as your answer — not the reference word itself.
Find → Read before → Identify → Substitute → Check
Look BEFORE, not after: Reference words almost always point backwards to something already said. So read the lines before the word, not after it. Then substitute the noun to confirm the sentence still makes sense.
Tracking a reference in a real text: Here is a short text — the kind Paper 2 (Reading) gives you. The text stays in front of you, so when a question asks what a reference word points to, you read back to find it. Read the text once (tap Ver traducción if you get stuck), then we'll track one reference word together.
La carta de la abuela: Lucía recibió una carta de su abuela. En ella, la abuela contaba que había comprado un perro pequeño. Lo había llamado Toby y lo sacaba a pasear cada mañana por el parque que hay cerca de su casa. Allí se encontraba con otros vecinos y charlaba un rato con ellos.
La abuela decía que Toby la acompañaba siempre y que, gracias a él, se sentía menos sola. Por eso, en la carta, le daba las gracias a Lucía: había sido ella quien le había regalado el perro por su cumpleaños.
- la carta
- the letter
- sacar a pasear
- to take (a pet) for a walk
- acompañar
- to keep (someone) company
- sentirse menos sola
- to feel less lonely
- regalar
- to give (as a present)
Finding the referent
Una pregunta, paso a paso
- Read the question — «En la frase “Lo había llamado Toby”, ¿a qué se refiere “lo”?»
- Read back. The sentence just before says «había comprado un perro pequeño». So look at the masculine singular noun there.
- Substitute and answer — «Lo había llamado Toby» → «Había llamado al perro Toby». «Lo» se refiere al perro.
Check the agreement: «Lo» is masculine singular, so its referent must be a masculine singular noun — «el perro», not «la carta». Always check the reference word and the noun agree before you commit to your answer.
Never wonder what to study next
Get a personalized daily plan based on your exam date, progress, and weak areas. We'll tell you exactly what to review each day.
Try Free Study Plan7-day free trial • No card required
Where marks are lost: Most marks are lost not to hard Spanish but to careless tracking: pointing to the wrong (often the nearest) noun, choosing a referent that doesn't agree in gender and number, or guessing without substituting the noun back to check. Compare the two columns.
Buenas prácticas
- Read back to find the noun the word really points to.
- Check the referent agrees in gender and number with the word.
- Substitute the noun back in and confirm the sentence still makes sense.
- For «esto/eso», name the whole idea, not just one noun.
Errores típicos
- Point to the nearest noun even when it doesn't fit.
- Choose a referent that doesn't agree in gender/number with the word.
- Guess the referent without substituting it back to check.
- Answer with the reference word itself instead of the noun it points to.
Agreement is your check: If your chosen referent doesn't agree in gender and number with the reference word, it's the wrong one. «Las» needs a feminine plural noun; «lo» needs a masculine singular noun. Let agreement guide you.