Forums > Specific Focus > Learning Spanish

sfmacaws

Jan 13, 2007, 11:26 PM

Post #1 of 2 (2828 views)

Shortcut

Quedar & quedarse

Can't Post | Private Reply

Judith mentioned in the last post that quedar is a verb that takes en. It reminded me that it is a verb that I have a lot of trouble with, it seems to mean so many things. I understand that there is a big difference when it is reflexive but even then, there are so many meanings. Could we have a little discussion about it? Maybe it will stick better in my mind.

I always remember a poem I memorized in my 20's about Che Guevara. I don't remember it all now but I do remember the line
aqui se queda la clara, la entrañable de tu querida presencia Commandante Che Guevara

Just remembering that line has helped me remember that quedarse can mean 'remains' or 'stays'. I need some help with the other meanings.

Oh, and is en not used when it is reflexive? Because if it were, would it be aqui se queda en la clara?

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

juditha16

Jan 14, 2007, 7:49 AM

Post #2 of 2 (2819 views)

Shortcut

Re: [sfmacaws] Quedar & quedarse

Can't Post | Private Reply

Hola, Jonna
What good questions! You keep sending me to my reference books (and favorite website for Spanish/English translations and explanations.)

RE: Question about using en after certain verbs. En is used when the verb is followed by an infinitive. Sorry to omit that in my explanation.

As for quedar and quedarse, here’s what I found at the Word Reference.com site. If you visit the site you’ll find lots of discussion about the uses of both verbs

quedar verbo intransitivo
http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?v=tb1&spen=quedar

1 (en un estado) quedar bien, (una persona) to make a good impression
(un objeto) to look nice
quedar en ridículo, to make a fool of oneself
2 (en un lugar) to be: mi casa no queda lejos, my house is not far from here
3 (sobrar) to be left: ¿queda más té?, is there any tea left?
4 (faltar) (tiempo) to go: quedan dos días para las vacaciones, there are two days to go till the holidays
5 (convenir) to agree: quedamos en ir al cine, we agreed to go to the cinema Here's where you'll find "en"+inf.
6 (citarse) to meet: quedaré con mi hermana, I'll arrange to meet my sister
7 (una ropa, un peinado, etc) to suit: te queda grande, it's too big for you

quedarse verbo refelxivo
http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?v=tb1&spen=quedarse

1 (en un estado) to remain: me quedé sorprendida, I was astonished
2 (en un lugar) to stay: se quedó en casa, she stayed (at) home
se quedó en el hotel, she stayed at the hotel
3 (sin algo) to run out of sthg
quedarse sin trabajo, to lose one's job
4 (con algo) to keep, take: me quedé con su abrigo, I kept his coat
se quedó con el tercer premio, she took the third prize
5 (en la memoria) to remember: no me quedé con su número de teléfono, I can't remember his telephone number
6 familiar (con alguien) to have sb on
Judith

(This post was edited by juditha16 on Jan 14, 2007, 7:55 AM)