We use QUEDAR to make plans to meet with others or talk about those plans.
QUEDARSE doesn’t mean to live, it means to spend some time (days, weeks, etc.) in a place different from your usual home.
This is one of the two uses of QUEDARSE, with the reflexive pronoun, that you need to know in the most basic levels.
In the examples above QUEDARSE means to be in a place (to stay) and don’t leave. Can we confuse this reflexive use with the previous one (accommodation)? Yes, but the context is key to avoid any confusion.
Hoy me quedo en el hotel Miramar, pero mañana me quedo en tu casa.
(tonight I’ll spend the night at the hotel)
Hoy me quedo en el hotel, pero mañana voy a tu casa y hablamos.
(today I won’t leave the hotel)
La blusa te queda mal, pero el pantalón te queda muy bien.
Esos zapatos le quedan grandes.
El vestido me queda un poco pequeño, ¿no crees?
Creo que el pelo verde nos queda raro.
To ask another person’s opinion about our hairstyle, our clothes or something similar, we use the verb QUEDAR with the same structure as the verb GUSTAR. Look:
If you want to learn the vocabulary of clothes and accessories and practise more this use of QUEDAR, it’s time to see our post:
We use the verb QUEDAR in the third person, to locate a place or an object.
We use QUEDAR to talk about quantity.
Can we use HABER instead of QUEDAR in the previous dialogue? Yes, let’s have a look:
So why do we need two options if they are the same? Because they are not exactly the same. With the verb HAVE we indicate the quantity and the existence or non-existence of something:
Hay 5 manzanas en casa. No hay leche.
With the verb QUEDAR we indicate the amount left of something:
Quedan 5 manzanas. (there are 5 apples left)
No queda leche. (there is no milk left)
When we use HABER we talk about something new or simply state the existence of something.
No hay leche. (Maybe there was some milk before, but we don’t really know)
No queda leche. (There was milk before, but not anymore)
We express how much time or distance is left until another point in time or in space.
As you have seen in the previous example, QUEDARSE (con) algo means that you keep something, which is then yours.
In this case we use QUEDAR en as a synonym for to reach an agreement or to AGREE on something.
Let’s practise now all these advanced uses. Are you ready?
With the verb QUEDARSE + adjective we express a change of state that is the result of a previous action or event. It can be physical or emotional and temporary or permanent. Look at these examples:
Estaba tan cansado que me quedé dormido 2 horas en un banco del parque.
Nos quedábamos muy tristes cuando teníamos que despedirnos de nuestros compañeros de clase antes de las vacaciones de verano.
Después de darles la buena noticia se quedaron muy contentas.
Jonás se ha quedado calvo por el accidente. Ya no le volverá a crecer el pelo.
Keep in mind that these changes are completely involuntary and they can be positive o negative ones.
There are also colloquial uses such as QUEDARSE con alguien. It means to tease, or to trick someone in order to laugh with or at them or to take advantage of that person. Look at this second example:
Manolo, ¿por qué faltan 500 euros de la cuenta del banco?
Whether you’re a complete beginner or you’re an advanced student, with us you’ll reach the next level of Spanish quickly and easily. With 24 Levels to Spanish fluency, the next level is always close by, so you will never lose motivation.
You can choose between:
In both cases, you’ll learn Spanish using our successful 24 Level System to Spanish Fluency® and our unique Spanish teaching methods.
