quedarlas

Quedarlas is a non-finite verb form derived from the verb quedar combined with the feminine plural object pronoun las. It functions inside a clause with another conjugated verb, forming an infinitive construction that can carry different meanings depending on context.

In everyday usage, quedarlas can express leaving the feminine plural objects in a location. For example, Voy a quedarlas aquí means “I am going to leave them here.” It can also be used to indicate setting something aside or keeping it for a future time, as in Quedarlas para más tarde, which translates roughly as “keeping them for later.”

A closely related form is quedárselas, the reflexive variant that conveys keeping the items for oneself rather than leaving them with others. For instance, Quiero quedármelas means “I want to keep them for myself,” and Quédatelas, used as a command, means “Keep them for yourself.” The transitive, non-reflexive quedarlas and the reflexive quedárselas are both common in spoken Spanish, but quedárselas emphasizes possession or control by the subject.

Usage notes: quedarlas is less common than clearer alternatives such as dejar (to leave) or guardar (to keep). The choice between quedarlas and more explicit verbs depends on regional variation and discourse context. In formal writing, speakers often prefer dejar or guardar to avoid ambiguity.

See also quedar, quedarse, dejar, guardar, and pronoun clitics.