quedaba
/keh-DAH-bah/
was left
Illustrating the concept of something that 'was left' (quantity remaining).
quedaba(verb)
was left
?referring to quantity or time remaining
,was remaining
?describing a continuous state
used to be left
?habitual past
📝 In Action
Después de la cena, solo quedaba un trozo de pastel.
A2After dinner, only one piece of cake was left.
Ella siempre se quedaba callada cuando su padre hablaba.
B1She always remained quiet when her father spoke.
Yo quedaba muy poco tiempo para terminar el proyecto.
A2I had very little time remaining to finish the project. (Used with 'yo')
💡 Grammar Points
The Imperfect Tense
This 'aba' ending means the action was ongoing or repeated in the past. Think of it like 'was remaining' or 'used to remain,' describing a situation without saying exactly when it ended.
Yo vs. Él/Ella/Usted
In the imperfect tense, 'quedaba' is used for both 'I' (yo) and 'he/she/you formal' (él/ella/usted). Context is key to knowing who is doing the action.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using Preterite for Ongoing States
Mistake: "Quedó poco tiempo. (Used 'quedó', completed action)"
Correction: Quedaba poco tiempo. (Use 'quedaba' to show the continuous state of having little time.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Setting the Scene
Use 'quedaba' to set the background scene in a story. For example, 'The house was silent, and only one candle quedaba encendida' (remained lit).
Illustrating where a place 'was located'.
quedaba(verb)
was located
?referring to the position of a place
,was situated
?referring to location
used to be
?referring to a previous location
📝 In Action
El viejo mercado quedaba justo al lado de la iglesia.
A1The old market was located right next to the church.
Yo siempre quedaba en esa esquina para esperar el autobús.
B1I always waited (was situated) on that corner to wait for the bus. (Context: Habitual staying)
💡 Grammar Points
Location in the Past
When describing where a fixed building or place was, 'quedaba' is often used. It emphasizes the established, long-term location in the past, similar to 'it was situated there'.
Illustrating how clothing 'fit' (or did not fit, being too large).
quedaba(verb)
fit
?referring to clothing size (le quedaba grande)
,looked
?referring to appearance or result
suited
?referring to appearance
📝 In Action
El sombrero le quedaba muy bien con su traje azul.
B1The hat looked very good (suited him/her) with his blue suit.
La ropa de niño me quedaba pequeña cuando tenía diez años.
B1The children's clothes fit me small when I was ten years old.
💡 Grammar Points
Use with 'Le' or 'Me'
When talking about how clothes fit, you almost always need an indirect pronoun: 'Me quedaba' (it fit me), 'Le quedaba' (it fit him/her). The subject is the clothing, not the person!
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quedaba
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'quedaba' to describe a habitual action in the past?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'quedaba' and 'quedó'?
'Quedaba' (imperfect) describes an ongoing situation or habitual routine in the past (e.g., 'The store was always located there'). 'Quedó' (preterite) describes a single, finished action or result (e.g., 'Only one cookie was left'—the result of the eating).
Is 'quedaba' always related to location?
No, 'quedaba' is highly flexible. It can mean 'was located,' 'was left over' (quantity), or 'was fitting' (appearance). It all depends on the context and if it's used with or without the reflexive pronoun 'se'.