¿Por o Para?

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by laepelba

to remain, to be left, to meet .......... I can sort of follow those ... but when it is used as an auxiliary verb with other verbs...... I am frequently surprised by the uses that native speakers find for "quedar"..............

¿Quedas como loca???

Sorry, I couldn't help it

I understand what you're saying. I never thought "quedar" was a problem for the English speaking people.

I remember when I was starting to learn English the verb that really drove me crazy was "to get". All those uses, all of them different, I was going nuts. Today I think it's the most useful verb in English. So, maybe that will happen to you too with "quedar" even though it's not as useful of "to get".

[laepelba]

Yes, my native Spanish-speaking friends also get (!!!) frustrated with "get". And, yes, I hope that I eventually am able to embrace "quedar" and use it broadly... I just need to make a mental note every time I hear it used ...

[aleCcowaN]

Speaking of "quedar", you may find useful this thread. (By the way, the mention there of «"guerras" gramaticales» was all about some popular misuse of "para" instead of "por" that is acceptable in Spain)

[laepelba]

Great link - thanks, Alec!!

[laepelba]

Otro: "cuál" y "qué"................

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Otro: "cuál" y "qué"................

I'd say it would help if you use "cuál" the way you use "which one". You have several choices, which one do you choose.

"Qué", as the English "what" in most contexts, is more general.

*I think

[laepelba]

I'm actually (usually) okay with "cual" and "que" ... but they're not directly one-to-one with "which" and "what".....

The other that I thought of was Spanish-speakers trying to learn "can" vs. "may" when asking a question.....

[Luna Azul]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I'm actually (usually) okay with "cual" and "que" ... but they're not directly one-to-one with "which" and "what".....

The other that I thought of was Spanish-speakers trying to learn "can" vs. "may" when asking a question.....

No, "cual" and "que" don't exactly relate to "which" and "what". That's why I said that "cual" would be more like "which one". Just a thought. I have no problem with either of them..

Actually I believe English speakers make more mistakes using "can" and "may" than English learners...

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by Luna Azul

Actually I believe English speakers make more mistakes using "can" and "may" than English learners...

You are SO right about that! We had a discussion about that here awhile back (don't have time to look for the thread right now), and a lot of English speakers were saying that they would never ask a question using "may". When I correct my students on that, they look at me like I have three heads.......