Reflexive Verbs Help Needed!
I have a question.
Would I say "Si despues de la novena entrada el tanto queda empatado, el partido continua." or would I say "Si despues de la novena entrada el tanto se queda empatado, el partido continua."?
I was thinking that since the game remains tied itself, we would say se queda but I am not sure. Please help!
What would I say and why?
2 Answers
I would use se queda. Quedarse is used to describe remaining in a state/condition or staying somewhere. Quedar is more commonly used to describe what is left over or remaining as well as describing a location (among other meanings such as agreeing to meet up etc)
One of the down sides to reflexive verb usage is, that so many educators believe that the usage of se means that the verb is doing some kind of whatever to itself. The best way to handle verbs with se…is to always look for their personal meanings first. For example: Lava el pelo. In this setting, the third person present indicative of lavar is transive. The action is being done to someone/thing else. She is washing hair. The washing is transive, and is being done to someone/things hair.
In the se lava el pelo. Instead of thinking reflexive…she is washing herself the hair…instead, think of the verb meaning as being personal to the subject:
she is washing her hair.
In your sentence,”Si despues de la novena entrada el tanto se queda empatado” you are exactly right. You are not trying to make the verb transive. Queda does mean to stay or remain. Le queda cinco centavos. He has five cents left. (remain) In this scenario “queda” is transive to (le)him.
But, El tanto se queda empatado…the score remains tied. The tie is personal to the subject of the verb “score”.
Viejito
