quedara
/keh-DAH-rah/
remained
When something 'remained' in a certain location or state, like the apple on the table, we use a form of quedara.
quedara(verb)
remained
?past uncertainty/wish regarding location or state
,stayed
?past wish/doubt
was left
?when referring to things or amounts
📝 In Action
Esperábamos que se quedara a cenar, pero tuvo que irse.
B1We hoped that he would stay for dinner, but he had to leave.
Si no quedara más pastel, ¿qué comeríamos de postre?
B2If there were no cake left, what would we eat for dessert?
Necesitaba que el coche quedara limpio antes del viaje.
B2I needed the car to remain clean before the trip.
💡 Grammar Points
Subjunctive for Past Wishes
The form 'quedara' is used after verbs of wishing or hoping in the past: 'Deseé que quedara' (I wished that it would remain).
Hypothetical Situations
Use 'quedara' in 'if' clauses (si clauses) to talk about unlikely or contrary-to-fact situations in the past or present: 'Si él quedara...' (If he were to stay...).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Subjunctive with Indicative
Mistake: "Era necesario que él quedaba en casa."
Correction: Era necesario que él quedara en casa. (When expressing necessity or obligation, Spanish uses the special verb form, 'quedara', not the simple past 'quedaba'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Result
Think of 'quedar' as describing the result or final state of an action. For example, 'quedó dormido' (he remained/ended up asleep).
Quedara is used to describe when people 'arranged to meet' at a specific time or place.
quedara(verb)
arranged to meet
?setting a time or place
,agreed
?reaching a consensus
met up
?social meeting (used with 'con')
📝 In Action
Si quedara con ella, ¿dónde irían?
B1If he were to meet up with her, where would they go?
El jefe pidió que la reunión quedara fijada para el lunes.
B2The boss asked that the meeting be set for Monday.
Era vital que quedara claro el plan.
C1It was vital that the plan be made clear (remained clear).
💡 Grammar Points
Making Plans
When talking about arranging a meeting, 'quedar' is often followed by 'con' and the person you are meeting: 'quedar con María'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Reunirse' Instead
Mistake: "Me reuní con mis amigos."
Correction: Quedé con mis amigos. (While 'reunirse' is correct, 'quedar' is the more common, informal verb used in Spain for simple social meetings.)
When clothing is the correct size, quedara refers to the garment 'fit'.
📝 In Action
No estaba seguro de que la camisa le quedara bien.
B2I wasn't sure that the shirt would fit him well.
Si el color quedara muy oscuro, podemos cambiarlo.
C1If the color looked too dark, we could change it.
Era necesario que el corte de pelo quedara moderno.
C1It was necessary that the haircut looked modern.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'quedar' like 'gustar'
When talking about fitting or suitability, 'quedar' often works like 'gustar' (to like), where the subject is the item, and the person is the indirect object: 'La falda me queda bien' (The skirt fits me well).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quedara
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'quedara' to express a past condition of suitability?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'quedar' have two different forms for the Imperfect Subjunctive ('quedara' and 'quedase')?
Both forms, 'quedara' and 'quedase', are completely correct and interchangeable. 'Quedara' (the -ra form) is slightly more common in modern spoken Spanish, but you can use either one depending on your preference or regional habit.
How is 'quedara' different from 'quedaba'?
'Quedaba' is the simple past description (Imperfect Indicative), meaning 'I/he/she used to stay' or 'was staying,' describing a fact. 'Quedara' is the special form (Imperfect Subjunctive), used only when the action of staying is uncertain, wished for, hypothetical, or dependent on a feeling, like 'I hoped that he would stay.'