Welcome to our grammar lesson about the verb quedar in Spanish.
In this lesson we will learn the most frequent meanings of “quedar”, and read example sentences with each meaning.
At the end you’ll find an Exercise for practice.
Contents
“quedar” vs “quedarse”
The following table shows the possible meanings of “quedar” when it is not reflexive (“quedar”) and when it is reflexive (“quedarse”)
| quedar | quedarse |
|---|---|
| to arrange to meet - to meet | to stay |
| to agree to do something | to be left in a certain condition |
| there to be left | to keep something |
| to fit, to suit | |
| to leave a certain impression | |
| to be located |
(Click here if you need to review Reflexive Verbs)
Next we’ll read example sentences for each meaning.
Meanings of “quedar” (not reflexive)
to arrange to meet – to meet
In can mean “to arrange to meet” or simply “to meet”.
Nosotros quedamos casi todas las semanas.
We meet (or arrange to meet) almost every week.¿A qué hora quedamos?
At what time do we meet?¿Dónde quedamos?
Where do we meet?
We can use the preposition “con” after “quedar” to introduce the person with whom someone meets:
Yo he quedado con mi prima.
I have arranged to meet with my cousin.Ella siempre queda con su novio junto a la estación.
She always meets her boyfriend by the station.
to agree to do something
We use “quedar” colloquially as “to agree to do something”.
In this case, it is followed by the preposition “en” and then a verb in the Infinitive.
Hemos quedado en comprar una tele nueva.
We have agreed to buy a new TV.Ellos quedaron en esperar un poco más.
They agreed to wait a little longer.
there to be left
To talk about how many people or things there are left somewhere:
Solo quedan cinco personas en la fiesta.
There are only five people left at the party.¿Cuántas cervezas quedan?
How many beers are there left?No queda chocolate.
There is no chocolate left.
If we want to personalize the sentence, for example “I have two beers left”, we can place an Indirect Object Pronoun before quedar, in the following way:
Quedan dos cervezas.
There are two beers left.
Me quedan dos cervezas.
I have two beers left.No quedan monedas.
There are no coins left.
A Pablo no le quedan monedas.
Pablo has no coins left.
to fit, to suit
Example:
La mesa queda bien aquí.
The table fits well here.
Again, if we want to personalize the sentence, we can use an Indirect Object Pronoun before “quedar”:
¿Cómo me queda la chaqueta?
How does the jacket fit me?Las gafas te quedan mal.
The glasses look bad on you.
to leave a certain impression
Examples:
Santiago siempre queda bien.
Santiago always leaves a good impression.Ellos quedan mal.
They leave a bad impression.
We can use the word como after “quedar” if the impression is a comparison:
He quedado como un tonto.
I have left the impression of being like a dummy.
to be located
We can use “quedar” to say where something is located approximately:
Mi piso queda por el barrio de Lavapiés.
Mi flat is in the Lavapiés neighborhood.Los bares quedan cerca de la estación.
The bars are near de station.
Meanings of “quedarse” (reflexive)
to stay
Examples:
Hoy me quedo en casa.
Today I stay home.¿En qué hotel te quedas?
In which hotel are you staying?Nos quedamos aquí.
We stay here.
to be left in a certain condition
Here “quedarse” expresses the result of some process or experience.
Me quedé solo.
I was left alone.Luis se ha quedado calvo.
Luis has gone bald.El niño se quedó contento con su fiesta de cumpleaños.
The child was left happy with his birthday party.
to keep something
Yo me quedo este sombrero.
I keep this hat.¿Vosotros os quedáis el perro?
¿Do you guys keep the dog?
Practice
Complete the following sentences choosing between the options in brackets (one option is not reflexive, and the other one is reflexive):
1. ¿Por dónde ___ (queda / se queda) el teatro?
Where approximately is the theater?2. Vosotros ___ (quedáis / os quedáis) en la oficina.
You guys stay in the office.3. ¿Cuántos bocadillos ___ (quedan / se quedan)?
How many sandwiches are there left?4. Ellos ___ (han quedado / se han quedado) frente al restaurante.
They have arranged to meet in front of the restaurant.
Solutions:
1) queda
2) os quedáis
3) quedan
4) han quedado