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"Ser" is a copular verb which is often translated as "to be", and "quedar" is an intransitive verb which is often translated as "to be left". Learn more about the difference between "ser" and "quedar" below.
ser(
sehr
)A copular verb links the subject of a clause to the predicate (e.g., My brother is tall).
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to be made of
El casillero antiguo de mi abuela es de roble.My grandma's antique dresser is made of oak.
a. to root for
Yo soy del mejor equipo del mundo: FC Barcelona.I root for the best team in the world: FC Barcelona.
An impersonal verb is a verb with no apparent subject (e.g., Llueve en España.).
a. to be
Son las siete de la mañana.It is seven in the morning.
Era de noche cuando llegaron.It was night when they arrived.
An auxiliary verb, or helper verb, is a conjugated verb that comes before a main verb and determines the main verb's tense, mood, or aspect (e.g., I have gone.).
a. to be
El edificio fue diseñado por un equipo de arquitectos.The building was built by a team of architects.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
quedar(
keh
-
dahr
)An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
c. to be left over
Quedó bastante pollo para alimentar a los perros.There was enough chicken left over to feed to the dogs.
d. to have left
No nos quedan huevos. Hay que comprar más.We don't have any eggs left. We need to buy more.
c. to arrange to meet
He quedado con mi abogado a las 10 am porque quiero pedirle consejo sobre el tema.I've arranged to meet my lawyer at 10 am because I want to ask him for advice on the matter.
4. (to look)
5. (to wait)
a. to stay
No me pidas que quede si no vas a volver.Don't ask me to stay if you are not coming back.
6. (to end up)
a. to come in
Me dio una punzada y quedé última en la carrera de natación.I got a stitch and came in last in the swimming race.
b. to finish
Quedamos terceros. Por lo menos nos llevamos una medalla.We finished third. At least we got a medal.
8. (to appear)
a. to look
Si no queremos quedar como idiotas, es mejor que lo pensemos bien.If we don't want to look stupid, we'd better think about it carefully.
quedarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to stay
Nuestros primos se quedaron con nosotros durante la Navidad.Our cousins stayed with us over Christmas.
10. (to retain)
11. (to recall)
a. to remember
No se me queda la lección después de haberla aprendido.I can't remember the lesson after I learned it.
a. to go
Mi abuelo se quedó ciego cuando tenía 80 y pico años.My granddad went blind when he was 80 something.
13. (colloquial) (to trick) (Spain)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Spain
