Introduction
When learning Spanish, you will encounter many expressions that seem confusing at first glance. One such expression is quedar por, which is essential for describing tasks, projects, or actions that remain incomplete or still need to be done. Understanding how to use quedar por correctly will enhance your ability to communicate about unfinished business in Spanish, whether you are discussing homework assignments, household chores, or professional projects. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the ins and outs of this useful Spanish construction, providing clear explanations and practical examples to help you master this grammar topic once and for all.
Understanding the Basics of Quedar por
The expression quedar por is a verb phrase that literally translates to “to remain to be done” or “to be still left to do” in English. It is used to indicate that something has not yet been completed and still needs to be accomplished. The structure combines the verb quedar, which means to remain or stay, with the preposition por, which typically means “for” or “by.”
The basic construction of quedar por is straightforward: you use the conjugated form of quedar followed by por and then an infinitive verb that describes the action remaining to be done. For example, if you want to say that there is still cleaning to be done, you would say Me queda por limpiar la casa, which means I still have to clean the house or The house still needs to be cleaned by me.
This expression is particularly useful in Spanish because it focuses on what remains to be completed rather than what has already been done. It conveys a sense of incompleteness and urgency, making it perfect for situations where you want to emphasize outstanding tasks or pending work.
The Conjugation of Quedar
To use quedar por correctly, you need to understand how to conjugate the verb quedar in various tenses. The verb quedar is a regular verb that follows the standard -ar verb conjugation pattern in Spanish. Here are the most common present tense conjugations you will need:
In the present indicative: yo quedo, tú quedas, él/ella/usted queda, nosotros quedamos, vosotros quedáis, ellos/ellas/ustedes quedan. When you use quedar por with an infinitive, the infinitive remains unchanged regardless of the subject. This means that the conjugated form of quedar changes based on who is performing the action or experiencing the situation, but the infinitive verb stays in its base form.
For past tenses, you would use the preterite or imperfect forms of quedar. In the preterite, the conjugations are: quedé, quedaste, quedó, quedamos, quedasteis, quedaron. In the imperfect, the conjugations are: quedaba, quedabas, quedaba, quedábamos, quedabais, quedaban. These past tense forms are useful when discussing what remained to be done in the past or what was still pending at a particular time.
Common Sentence Structures with Quedar por
The most common way to use quedar por is with the indirect object pronoun, which indicates who the task affects or who needs to complete it. The typical structure is: [indirect object pronoun] + [conjugated quedar] + [por] + [infinitive verb] + [object].
For example, Me quedan por hacer tres tareas means I still have three tasks to do. In this sentence, me is the indirect object pronoun, quedan is the third-person plural form of quedar, por is the preposition, hacer is the infinitive verb, and tres tareas is the object of the action.
Another common example is Te queda por estudiar el capítulo cinco, which means You still have to study chapter five. Here, te is the indirect object pronoun, queda is the third-person singular form of quedar, por is the preposition, estudiar is the infinitive verb, and el capítulo cinco is the object.
You can also use quedar por without an explicit indirect object pronoun when the context makes it clear who is affected. For instance, El proyecto queda por terminar means The project remains to be completed. This construction emphasizes what needs to be done rather than who needs to do it.
Practical Examples in Different Contexts
Understanding how quedar por works in real-life situations will help you use it naturally. Let us explore some practical examples across different contexts.
Household Chores and Daily Tasks
In everyday conversations about household responsibilities, quedar por appears frequently. For example, Le quedan por lavar varios platos means He/She still has several dishes to wash. Similarly, Nos queda por hacer la cama means We still need to make the bed.
Another common household example is Me quedan por organizar los armarios, which means I still have to organize the closets. This expression naturally conveys the sense that these are pending tasks that need attention soon.
School and Academic Assignments
Students often use quedar por when discussing homework and assignments. Al estudiante le quedan por entregar dos trabajos means The student still has to turn in two assignments. You might also hear Les queda por leer el siguiente capítulo, which means They still have to read the next chapter.
In academic contexts, this expression is particularly useful because it emphasizes the deadline pressure and the incompleteness of the work. Teachers might say A los alumnos les queda por completar la tarea antes del viernes, meaning The students still have to complete the assignment before Friday.
Professional and Work-Related Situations
In professional environments, quedar por is used to discuss pending tasks and incomplete projects. For example, Al equipo le queda por revisar el informe means The team still has to review the report. Similarly, Nos quedan por confirmar las fechas de la reunión means We still need to confirm the meeting dates.
You might also encounter Me quedan por enviar tres correos electrónicos, which means I still have to send three emails. This construction effectively communicates that these are outstanding tasks that need to be completed.
The Distinction Between Quedar por and Similar Expressions
Spanish has several expressions that convey similar meanings to quedar por, and understanding the differences between them will help you choose the most appropriate phrase for each situation.
Quedar por vs. Tener que
The expression tener que means to have to or must do something. While tener que can be used to express necessity or obligation, quedar por specifically emphasizes that a task remains incomplete. Tener que is more direct and less specific about incompleteness, whereas quedar por clearly indicates something is still unfinished.
Compare these two sentences: Tengo que limpiar la casa means I have to clean the house, which could be a general obligation. However, Me queda por limpiar la casa means I still have to clean the house, which specifically indicates that the cleaning has not yet been done and remains as a pending task.
Quedar por vs. Faltar
The verb faltar means to be missing or lacking. While both faltar and quedar por can describe incomplete situations, they have subtle differences. Faltar often emphasizes what is missing or absent, while quedar por focuses on what still needs to be done or accomplished.
For instance, Me falta un paso para terminar el proyecto means I am missing one step to finish the project, suggesting that something is lacking. However, Me queda por hacer un paso más means I still have to do one more step, emphasizing the action that remains.
Quedar por vs. Quedar pendiente
The expression quedar pendiente means to remain pending or unresolved. Both quedar pendiente and quedar por can describe unfinished situations, but quedar por implies a specific action that still needs to be taken, whereas quedar pendiente can be more general and suggest that something is awaiting resolution or decision.
El asunto queda pendiente means The matter remains pending or unresolved, without necessarily specifying an action. However, Me queda por resolver el asunto means I still have to resolve the matter, clearly indicating the action needed.
Using Quedar por in Different Tenses
While quedar por is most commonly used in the present tense, you can use it in other tenses to discuss past or future situations.
Past Tense Usage
In the preterite past tense, you can say Me quedaron por hacer muchas cosas, meaning I still had many things to do (at that point in time). This indicates that at a specific moment in the past, these tasks remained incomplete.
Using the imperfect tense allows you to describe a situation that was ongoing in the past. For example, Me quedaban por estudiar tres capítulos means I still had to study three chapters (and this was the situation at that time in the past). The imperfect suggests this was a recurring or continuous state rather than a completed action.
Future Tense Usage
To discuss what will remain to be done in the future, you can use the future tense. For instance, Te quedará por pagar la cuenta means You will still have to pay the bill. This construction helps you discuss anticipated incomplete tasks or outstanding obligations.
Practical Tips for Using Quedar por Correctly
To master quedar por, keep these practical tips in mind when using this expression in your Spanish communication.
First, always remember that the verb quedar must be conjugated to match the subject, whether that subject is expressed explicitly or implied through context or indirect object pronouns. The infinitive verb that follows por never changes and always remains in its base form.
Second, pay attention to indirect object pronouns when they are needed. In English, we might say I have to clean the house, but in Spanish with quedar por, you naturally say Me queda por limpiar la casa, where me indicates that the task affects or concerns the speaker.
Third, practice using quedar por in conversational contexts to develop a natural feel for when and how to use it. This expression is very common in everyday Spanish, so exposing yourself to authentic examples through conversation, media, and reading will help you internalize its usage patterns.
Finally, remember that quedar por specifically indicates incompleteness and pending tasks. If you want to express a general obligation without emphasizing that something remains unfinished, other expressions like tener que might be more appropriate.
Conclusion
The expression quedar por is an invaluable tool for Spanish learners seeking to describe unfinished tasks, pending projects, and outstanding obligations. By understanding its basic structure, how to conjugate the verb quedar, and how it differs from similar expressions, you will be able to use this phrase confidently in various contexts. Whether you are discussing household chores, academic assignments, or professional responsibilities, quedar por allows you to clearly communicate what remains to be accomplished. With consistent practice and exposure to real-world examples, this grammar construction will become a natural part of your Spanish communication toolkit, enhancing your fluency and ability to express yourself accurately in everyday situations.
