Learn Spanish (Latin America): Es triste que el señor se quede viudo ahora. - It is sad that the man is left a widower now.

Es triste que el señor se quede viudo ahora.

It is sad that the man is left a widower now.

Breakdown of Es triste que el señor se quede viudo ahora.

ser

to be

el señor

Mr. / sir / gentleman

Questions & Answers about Es triste que el señor se quede viudo ahora.

Why do we use se quede here instead of se vuelva or se haga?

The verb quedarse is used for changes of state that result from a sudden event or a loss, often something outside of a person's control. Classic examples include becoming a widow or widower (quedarse viudo), going blind (quedarse ciego), or going bald (quedarse calvo).

Why is the verb in the subjunctive mood (quede instead of queda)?

The sentence starts with es triste que, which expresses an emotion or a value judgment. Whenever you express a subjective emotion about another subject's action, Spanish requires the subjunctive mood for that second verb.

Could we just use the verb ser and say sea viudo?

Yes, saying sea viudo is grammatically correct to say that he is a widower. However, using se quede viudo specifically emphasizes the transition or the event of becoming a widower, whereas ser just describes his static condition.

Why is there no article before viudo when English uses the word a?

With verbs of change like quedarse, words like viudo act more like adjectives describing a condition rather than standalone nouns. Because it describes his new state, you do not use the article un.