Inklingo

How to Say "stayed" in Spanish

English → Spanish

quedó

VerbA1General
Use this form when describing a completed action of remaining in a specific place or state, often implying the action is finished.

Examples

Ella se quedó en la oficina hasta tarde.

She stayed in the office until late.

quedado

keh-DAH-doh/keˈðaðo/

AdjectiveA2General
Use this form as an adjective to describe something that has been left behind or has remained in a particular place or state.
A small, brightly colored red toy wagon sitting stationary on a green hill, suggesting it has remained in that spot.

Examples

El dinero que me había dado mi abuela estaba quedado en el cajón.

The money my grandmother had given me was left/remained in the drawer.

Todo quedó quedado tal y como lo habíamos planeado.

Everything was left exactly as we had planned it.

La reunión ha quedado acordada para el lunes.

The meeting has been arranged/fixed for Monday.

Participle Agreement

Like many Spanish words ending in -ado, 'quedado' must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the thing it is describing: 'La casa quedó quedada' (The house was left).

Confusing State vs. Action

Mistake: “Usar 'ser' en lugar de 'estar' o 'quedar' para describir el estado resultante: 'El libro fue quedado.'”

Correction: Use the verbs 'estar' or 'quedar' when describing the state of something after the action: 'El libro quedó olvidado.' (The book was left forgotten.)

quedara

/keh-DAH-rah//keˈðaɾa/

VerbA2General
Use this form to express a past wish, doubt, or uncertainty about someone staying, often in the subjunctive mood.
A single red apple resting on a simple wooden table in an otherwise empty, peaceful room.

Examples

Esperábamos que se quedara a cenar, pero tuvo que irse.

We hoped that he would stay for dinner, but he had to leave.

Si no quedara más pastel, ¿qué comeríamos de postre?

If there were no cake left, what would we eat for dessert?

Necesitaba que el coche quedara limpio antes del viaje.

I needed the car to remain clean before the trip.

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...).

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'.)

Verb vs. Adjective Usage

Learners often confuse 'quedó' (a completed verb action) with 'quedado' (an adjective describing a state of being left). Remember that 'quedó' implies an action taken or completed, while 'quedado' describes the result or status of something remaining.

Related Translations

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