What is the difference between sobrar and quedar?

Question

Hi all,

So in learning lots of new Spanish vocab and verbs in the summer, I cam across sobrar and quedar. Can someone explain the difference between them? It's super confusing...

For example: 1. (Quedar) Nos quedan todavía filetes en la nevera. But then... 2. (Sobrar) Nos sobra dinero para el cine y para comprar refrescos.

Aren't they both talking about how something is left over? Can they be used interchangeably? Help!!!

Thank you! :D

So...just checking: Would this sentence be correct? (The librarians have two of those books left/remaining) "Las bibliotecas les sobran dos de estos libros" - EllaSci4, Jul 9, 2014

NOp - EllaSci4, Jul 9, 2014

Well I accidentally pressed enter there...oops. Ok--no--so would sobran actually be quedan since quedan is remaining? - EllaSci4, Jul 9, 2014

Yes quedar is the verb here. ;-) - pml222, Jul 9, 2014

Sobran would refer to two too many books. - pml222, Jul 9, 2014

Answer 1

Hi EllaSci4

I believe that quedar means to be left /remain

Lo siento, no me queda el nombre 39. I'm sorry, I don't have any left in size 39.

Whereas sobrar means to be left over:

We had money left over for the cinema and to buy drinks.

Oh okay! That makes sense. Thank you! - EllaSci4, Jul 9, 2014

You're welcome ;-) - pml222, Jul 9, 2014

Yes, that looks right to me , too :) not that I'm an expert lol - FELIZ77, Jul 9, 2014

Answer 2

Quedar sounds correct when you have something you have used up or spent, consumed and you'd like to have more of it. - Me quedan 5 dolares, pero necesito 5 mas para completar la compra. Here the sentences implies that you spent money and 5 dollars remain,but you need more to complete the purchase.

Sobrar is when you have something that is more than enough. You have plently of it, more than what you need.

Compre una chaqueta con 50 dolares y me sobraron 10. Me sobra talento para completar el trabajo.