Palabra del día 'derecho' . Two questions please

Question

'Estoy intentando colgar unos cuartos en mi apartamento pero no logro que me queden derechos'

Could someone explain why the subjunctive is used here and also the use of 'me'

Many thanks for your help.

Answer 1

The subjunctive is used because it is alluding to a possibility. The pictures may stand straight, but I am not saying that they are standing straight. Sort of like 'that they were to stand straight' instead of 'they stand straight'. So:

'Estoy intentando colgar unos cuadros en mi apartamento pero no logro que me queden derechos'

• I am currently trying to hang some pictures in my room but I am failing that they were to/might stand straight to me/they were to fit straight.to me (that sounds like horrible English, but that's what it sounds like to me)

As for the use of 'me', I am not sure, but this probably falls in the zone of 'using the indirect object to indicate who is affected by an incident'. As in 'se me olvida', where you have less direct involvement with the act of forgetting than 'olvido' (that actually sounds like you forgot on purpose). 'me queda' will be something like 'they fit to me', indicating that their standing straight is also affecting you.

I am sorry if my explanations are vague or not completely backed, but I will do some more research. In the meantime, a native will hopefully stumble upon this thread and lend his/her valuable insight.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I will study it carefully in the hope I will understand it fully. Many thanks x - chris-keen, Jan 27, 2014

Apologies for the 'x' - did it out of habit. - chris-keen, Jan 27, 2014