Remain vs Left

Question

What is the diference? Please

Good question, Kib - rac1, Feb 14, 2013

By the way, It's "difference", in case that wasn't a typo. - PeterRS, Feb 14, 2013

Answer 1

"Left" tiene muchos sentidos. Quedar, dejar, salir/irse... Es difícil, especialmente cuando sentidos diferentes se combinan en una frase Mira estos ejemplos:

There were five left when she left.

Leave it and leave!

Uuf. Gracias, inglés. Significa: "Quedaban cinco cuando ella se fue" y "Dejalo y sal!"

A lo mejor, una lista de ejemplos típicos te ayudara.

Sentido "dejar"

She left him there = Ella lo dejó allí.

She left a note for him = Ella le dejó una carta.

I leave it to your discretion = Lo dejo a tu criterio.

Sentido "irse"

She left, but he remained = Ella se fue, pero él se quedó.

Sentido "quedar"

There's nothing left = No queda nada.

What's left to do? = Que queda a hacer?

Sentido "triste" (jeje)

She left him = Ella ha roto con él.

Cuando "left" lleva el sentido de "quedar", "remain" sirve también.

Three cookies are left = Three cookies remain = Quedan tres galletas.

Pero "remain" tiene sentido de "quedarse" también, y en este caso, "left" no sirve, pero "stay" si sirve:

I will remain with you throughout the day = I will stay with you throughout the day = Voy a quedarme contigo durante el día.

I have to say, MHAW, you have been a great addition to the forum. Every one of your answers that I've seen have been right on. Thanks - PeterRS, Feb 14, 2013

Hey, thanks! That's good to hear. I haven't felt like I had much to contribute because I only started learning Spanish a couple of years ago. - MyHeadAboveWater, Feb 14, 2013

Answer 2

Using the word remain, if the subject is a person, the difference is voluntary. A choice you make. I remained on the island. If you say, I was left on the island, it probably wasn't your choice. If the subject is not a person, it doesn't make any difference how you use them.

:) - ian-hill, Feb 13, 2013

very good general rules. - rogspax, Feb 13, 2013

Gracias amigos - pmikan-pam, Feb 14, 2013

Answer 3

She left, but I remained. (stayed)

Ella se fue pero yo me quedé.

We have only £6 left. = We have only £6 remaining.

Tenemos sólo £ 6 restantes.

Good examples - pmikan-pam, Feb 13, 2013

also very good and very nicely reinforce Pam's - rogspax, Feb 13, 2013

Answer 4

I have to disagree with pmikan-pam that if the subject is not a person, it doesn't make a difference which is used. (Sorry)

Examples -

I left my book on the bus. Don't leave your book on the bus.

I tried to unjam the door, but it remained stuck. I'm trying to unjam the door, but it remains stuck.

When something is left, that's it, the event is over. When something remains - it's still there, ongoing.

well, that may be an exception to her rule, but in general, hers is a very good one. Left does not have to have any connotation of over or done with objects. in fact, it most often doesnt. - rogspax, Feb 13, 2013

there are 2 cookies left in the box. There are 2 days left in the semester. I still have 3 bullets left. - rogspax, Feb 13, 2013

I agree there are many situations where either word can be used. In fact, virtually all definitions of one of them uses the other. But I think it's more important to point out the differences to non-native speakers, rather than the occasions where - PeterRS, Feb 13, 2013

it won't matter. - PeterRS, Feb 13, 2013