quedaron
/ke-DAH-ron/
remained
Only a small piece of cake remained (quedaron) after the party.
quedaron(verb)
remained
?as in, what was left over
,were left
?what was available
were situated
?location
,resulted in
?outcome
📝 In Action
Después de la fiesta, solo quedaron tres botellas de agua.
A2After the party, only three bottles of water remained (were left).
Los documentos importantes quedaron en el escritorio.
B1The important documents were left on the desk.
💡 Grammar Points
Past Action: Preterite Tense
This form ('quedaron') tells you that the action of 'remaining' or 'being left' happened and finished completely at a specific point in the past.
Focus on the Result
When using 'quedar' in this sense, the focus is on the final outcome or result of a previous action (like selling, eating, or distributing).
⭐ Usage Tips
Quedar vs. Quedarse
Remember that 'quedaron' (non-reflexive) usually means 'they remained/were left,' while 'se quedaron' (reflexive) means 'they stayed (in a location)' or 'they kept (something).'
The rabbit and the fox arranged to meet (quedaron) at the park gate.
quedaron(verb)
arranged to meet
?scheduled a meeting
,agreed (to meet)
?came to an agreement
made a date
?informal arrangement
📝 In Action
Los gerentes quedaron en discutir el contrato el lunes.
B1The managers agreed to discuss the contract on Monday.
Quedaron de cenar juntos, pero ella no apareció.
B2They arranged to have dinner together, but she didn't show up.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Quedar' with 'En'
To express that people agreed on an action, you often pair 'quedar' with the small word 'en' (e.g., 'quedaron en + infinitive verb').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'Quedar' and 'Reunirse'
Mistake: "Usar 'Quedaron a reunirse'."
Correction: Say 'Quedaron en reunirse' (They agreed to meet) or simply 'Se reunieron' (They met). 'Quedar' implies the planning step.
They looked (quedaron) very smart in their new outfits.
quedaron(verb)
looked
?appearance, as in 'they looked good'
,fitted
?referring to clothes or size
turned out
?the result of a situation
📝 In Action
Los nuevos uniformes quedaron muy elegantes.
B1The new uniforms looked very elegant.
Las cortinas rojas no quedaron bien con la pared azul.
B2The red curtains didn't look good (didn't go well) with the blue wall.
Después de la remodelación, las habitaciones quedaron mucho más amplias.
B2After the remodel, the rooms turned out much more spacious.
💡 Grammar Points
Quedar + Adjective
In this sense, 'quedar' is often followed by a descriptive word (an adjective) to explain the state or appearance of the subject.
⭐ Usage Tips
Describing Clothes
This is the perfect verb to describe how a piece of clothing fits or looks on someone: 'Esa camisa te queda bien' (That shirt looks good on you).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quedaron
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'quedaron' to mean 'they agreed to meet'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'quedaron' and 'se quedaron'?
'Quedaron' (non-reflexive) usually means 'they remained' or 'they agreed.' 'Se quedaron' (reflexive) means 'they stayed' in a location, or 'they kept' something. Example: 'Se quedaron en casa' (They stayed at home).
Does 'quedaron' always refer to 'ellos' (they)?
Not always. It is the form for the third-person plural, which can be 'ellos' (they, masculine), 'ellas' (they, feminine), or 'ustedes' (you all, formal or informal depending on the region).