quedarte
/keh-DAR-teh/
to stay (you, tú)
When you are remaining in a place, quedarte means 'to stay'.
quedarte(Verb)
to stay (you, tú)
?remaining in a place
,to remain (you, tú)
?not leaving
for you to stay
?used after verbs like 'poder' or 'deber'
📝 In Action
Necesitas quedarte en casa hoy.
A1You need to stay home today.
¿Podrías quedarte un rato más?
A2Could you stay a little longer?
Si no tienes dónde ir, lo mejor es quedarte aquí.
B1If you don't have anywhere to go, the best thing is for you to remain here.
💡 Grammar Points
Verb + Reflexive Pronoun
This word is the infinitive 'quedar' attached to the pronoun 'te,' meaning 'you' (tú). You use this structure when the verb is the second verb in a phrase (e.g., 'Tienes que quedarte').
Pronoun Placement
When the verb is conjugated (e.g., Present Tense), the 'te' moves to the front: 'Te quedas en la sala' (You stay in the living room).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'te'
Mistake: "No quiero que quedes."
Correction: No quiero que te quedes. ('Quédar' without the pronoun means 'to meet' or 'to fit,' which changes the meaning completely.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with obligations
Use 'quedarte' frequently after verbs that express obligation or desire, like 'debes' (you must) or 'quiero que' (I want you to).
If you decide to retain possession of something, quedarte means 'to keep' it.
quedarte(Verb)
to keep (you, tú)
?retaining possession of an item
,to take (for yourself)
?making a selection
to hold on to
?retaining something
📝 In Action
Si te gusta el libro, puedes quedarte con él.
B1If you like the book, you can keep it.
No vamos a usar este dinero; puedes quedarte con el cambio.
B2We aren't going to use this money; you can keep the change.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'con'
When 'quedarse' means 'to keep' something, it is often followed by the word 'con' (with): 'quedarte con el perro' (to keep the dog).
Use quedarte to describe how you 'end up' or reach a final state.
quedarte(Verb)
to end up (you, tú)
?reaching a final state or result
,to be left (you, tú)
?as a consequence of something
to become
?followed by an adjective describing a state
📝 In Action
Si no estudias, vas a quedarte sin trabajo.
B2If you don't study, you are going to be left without a job.
Después de la película, pude quedarte pensativo.
C1After the movie, I could see you were left thoughtful (you ended up thoughtful).
💡 Grammar Points
Expressing Result
This usage shows a change in state or situation. It's often followed by the preposition 'sin' (without) or an adjective describing the new state.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: quedarte
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'quedarte' in the sense of 'to keep'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'quedar' and 'quedarse'?
'Quedar' (without the pronoun) usually means 'to arrange a meeting' ('quedamos a las 5') or 'to be located.' 'Quedarse' (with the pronoun) means 'to stay in one place' or 'to keep something for yourself.'
Why is 'te' attached to the end of the verb?
'Te' is attached to the end because 'quedarte' is the base form (the infinitive). In Spanish, when you use a reflexive verb in the infinitive, you always attach the pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) directly to the end.