Quedar vs. quedarse
The Spanish verbs quedar and quedarse are often confusing because they stem from the same root but have distinct meanings. The key difference lies in the reflexive pronoun se. In simple terms, quedar often focuses on what is left over, an arrangement, or an outcome, while quedarse focuses on the subject staying, keeping something, or experiencing a change of state.
Quedar
A2This verb is not reflexive and is used to talk about what is left or remaining, to arrange a meeting, to describe how something fits or looks on someone, to indicate a location, or to describe a final result or impression.
Solo quedan tres entradas para el concierto.
(There are only three tickets left for the concert.)
¿A qué hora quedamos mañana?
(What time are we meeting tomorrow?)
Esa chaqueta te queda perfecta.
(That jacket fits you perfectly.)
El restaurante queda cerca de la plaza principal.
(The restaurant is located near the main square.)
El pastel quedó un poco seco.
(The cake turned out a little dry.)
Después de su explicación, todo quedó claro.
(After his explanation, everything was clear.)
Quedó en primer lugar en la competición.
(He finished in first place in the competition.)
Quedarse
A2This is the reflexive form, where the action refers back to the subject. It is primarily used to mean to stay or to remain in a place, to keep something, or to describe a change of emotional or physical state that the subject undergoes.
Voy a quedarme en casa esta noche para descansar.
(I am going to stay home tonight to rest.)
Se quedó con el último trozo de pizza.
(He kept the last slice of pizza for himself.)
Nos quedamos sin gasolina en medio de la autopista.
(We ran out of gas in the middle of the highway.)
Ella se quedó muy sorprendida al ver el regalo.
(She was very surprised upon seeing the gift.)
El niño se quedó dormido viendo la televisión.
(The child fell asleep watching television.)
De todas las camisas, me quedo con la azul.
(Of all the shirts, I'll take the blue one.)
Se me quedó el paraguas en la oficina.
(I left my umbrella at the office.)
Summary
In summary, use quedar to talk about external results: what remains (quedan dos), where something is located (el bar queda en...), how something looks on someone (te queda bien), or an agreement (quedamos a las tres). Use quedarse when the subject is the one performing the action of staying, keeping, or changing state: staying in a place (me quedo aquí), keeping an object (me quedo con el libro), or becoming something (se quedó triste). The pronoun in quedarse always directs the action back to the person.