quedarse
/keh-DAHR-seh/
to stay
To stay (quedarse): The dog chooses to remain inside the warm cabin.
quedarse(verb)
to stay
?remaining in a place
,to remain
?continuing to be in a location
📝 In Action
¿Te quedas en casa esta noche?
A1Are you staying home tonight?
Nos quedamos tres días en el hotel.
A2We stayed at the hotel for three days.
Si no vienes, yo me quedo contigo.
A1If you don't come, I will stay with you.
💡 Grammar Points
The '-se' Ending
The '-se' part means the action bounces back to the person doing it. Here, it just reinforces that you are the one staying.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'quedar' instead of 'quedarse'
Mistake: "Me quedo en casa. (Used correctly)"
Correction: Quiero quedar aquí. (Incorrect) -> Use 'quedarse' when talking about personally staying somewhere. 'Quedar' usually means 'to meet' or 'to fit'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with prepositions
Always follow 'quedarse' with a preposition like 'en' (in/at), 'con' (with), or 'sin' (without) to complete the idea.
To keep (quedarse): The child holds onto the balloon, retaining possession.
quedarse(verb)
to keep
?taking or retaining possession of something
,to be left with
?referring to remaining items or results
to run out of
?used with 'sin' (quedarse sin)
📝 In Action
Ella se quedó con mi libro favorito.
A2She kept my favorite book (took possession of it).
Después de la fiesta, solo nos quedamos con los platos sucios.
B1After the party, we were only left with the dirty dishes.
Si gastamos todo, nos quedaremos sin dinero.
B1If we spend everything, we will run out of money.
💡 Grammar Points
Quedarse CON
When you want to express keeping or choosing something, always use 'quedarse con'. For example: 'Me quedé con la camiseta azul' (I chose/kept the blue shirt).
Quedarse SIN
When you want to express running out of something or lacking something, always use 'quedarse sin'. For example: 'Nos quedamos sin café' (We ran out of coffee).
To become (quedarse): The shirt transitions to a new state, becoming stained.
quedarse(verb)
to become
?transitioning to a new state (often temporary)
,to end up
?describing the final state or result
,to fall
?used for suddenly falling asleep ('quedarse dormido')
to be speechless
?used with adjectives like 'mudo' or 'impresionado'
📝 In Action
Se quedó dormida viendo la película.
B1She fell asleep watching the movie.
Me quedé totalmente asombrado por la noticia.
B1I became/was left totally astonished by the news.
Con esa actitud, te vas a quedar solo.
B2With that attitude, you are going to end up alone.
💡 Grammar Points
Like 'Ser' or 'Estar'?
When 'quedarse' is used to describe a state, the adjective that follows must match the gender and number of the person (e.g., 'Ella se quedó sorprendida', 'Nos quedamos callados').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'Quedarse' with 'Hacerse'
Mistake: "Me hice dormido. (Incorrect)"
Correction: Me quedé dormido. ('Quedarse' is perfect for sudden changes like falling asleep or going quiet, while 'hacerse' is better for deliberate, gradual changes like careers or politics.)
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quedarse
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'quedarse' to mean 'to keep possession of'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'quedar' and 'quedarse'?
'Quedar' (without -se) has several impersonal meanings: 'to fit' ('La camisa le queda bien'), 'to meet' ('Quedamos a las siete'), or 'to remain' in an impersonal sense ('Quedan dos manzanas'). 'Quedarse' (with -se) always focuses on the subject, meaning 'to stay,' 'to keep,' or 'to become'.
When do I need to attach the 'me/te/se' pronouns to the end of the verb?
You attach the pronoun to the end of the verb when it is in the infinitive ('quedarse'), the gerund ('quedándose'), and the affirmative command form ('quédate'). In all other tenses, the pronoun comes before the conjugated verb ('Me quedo', 'Te quedaste').