A Story for You to Practise “Quedarse”

Quedarse or quedar? Which should I use and when? 

Many students still ask me about the difference between quedarse and quedar, so I’ve written this story in Spanish to clear things up.  Let me explain!

The Spanish language has many verbs whose pronouns (me, te, se) are part of the verb. We can also find many verbs that are spelled the same, but the only difference is that some of them have pronouns and some don’t. This changes their meaning.

Let’s start the story!

First, in English, then in Spanish. I have highlighted the verbs in both languages in order to understand them.

Now for quedarse and quedar!

The Station

I’m sitting at the train station and the clock doesn’t work. The café here is really nice, it is so cold outside but here you can be safe and warm. I’m alone, waiting for the train. Someone very special is coming to visit me.

I check my handbag again. Yes! I haven’t forgotten the present I’ve made for him. I open my book and read on to the last page. It’s impossible to concentrate on reading, I have so many thoughts in my head…

Suddenly, a big dog comes at me. At first, I don’t move, I stand still and don’t say anything. He sniffs me, apparently I smell good. His owner has met up with a man, maybe for a date, maybe for a work meeting. Who knows?

I want to stay here, in this chair, forever, capturing the moment. It’s a big day and I’m in the middle of nowhere, waiting for someone who I haven’t seen for years. Maybe I won’t recognise him.

Someone suddenly stops in front of me, lost in thought, right in front of me. Perhaps she needs some help. 

This station is full of cinema-esque situations. I like to imagine what is happening in all these people’s lives. At long last, I finish the last chapter of my book. So I open my notepad, that old notepad. I start writing about the figures I see. Even the ones which are in the shadows.  

La estación

Estoy sentada aquí y el reloj no funciona. La cafetería es muy agradable, hace tanto frío fuera que aquí puedes estar calentito y seguro. Estoy sola, esperando el tren. Alguien muy especial viene a visitarme.

Vuelvo a mirar el bolso. ¡Sí! No he olvidado el regalo que le he hecho. Entonces, abro mi libro y leo hasta la última página. Es imposible concentrarse en la lectura, tengo tantos pensamientos en la cabeza…

De repente, un gran perro viene hacia mí. Al principio, no me muevo, me quedo quieta y no digo nada. Me olfatea, parece que huelo bien. Su dueño ha quedado con un hombre, quizá es una cita. Tal vez es una reunión de trabajo. ¡Quién sabe!

Quiero quedarme aquí, en esta silla, para siempre, capturando el momento. Es un gran día y estoy en medio de la nada, esperando a alguien a quien no veo desde hace años. Tal vez no puedo reconocerle.

De repente, alguien se queda pensativo con la mirada perdida delante de mí, justo delante de mí. Quizá necesita ayuda.

Esta estación está llena de situaciones de cine. Me gusta imaginar lo que pasa en la vida de todas estas personas. Por fin, acabo el último capítulo de mi libro. Así que abro mi cuaderno, ese viejo que tengo desde hace años. Empiezo a escribir sobre las figuras que veo. Incluso las que están en la sombra.

Have you finished reading? Did you like it?

Well, I also like to create stories for my students, as you have just seen. This is part of our method to make the students learn Spanish in a friendlier and more beautiful way.

As you’ve seen in the text, quedarse and quedar are very common in Spanish. Let us teach you how to use them correctly and make your Spanish sound fluid and natural.

Book your Spanish trial lesson!