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Tienes que lijar la mesa de modo que el barniz quede perfecto.

Tienes que lijar la mesa de modo que el barniz quede perfecto.
You have to sand the table so that the varnish ends up perfect.
From Lesson 347:Result and purpose clauses (de modo que)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about Tienes que lijar la mesa de modo que el barniz quede perfecto.

Why is quede in the subjunctive here instead of the indicative queda?
The connector de modo que takes the subjunctive when it expresses an intended purpose or a goal. Because you still have to sand the table, the perfect varnish hasn't happened yet—it is the result you want to achieve. If you were stating an actual result of something that already happened, you would use the indicative (for example: Lijaste la mesa de modo que el barniz quedó perfecto - You sanded the table in such a way that the varnish turned out perfect).
Could I use para que instead of de modo que in this sentence?
Yes, you could say para que el barniz quede perfecto, and the meaning remains almost identical. Both trigger the subjunctive here. However, de modo que carries the literal meaning of "in a way that" or "in such a way that." It puts slightly more focus on the method—how you do the sanding (carefully, thoroughly)—to achieve that flawless finish.
Is there a difference between de modo que and de tal modo que?
They are largely interchangeable, but adding tal adds emphasis. De tal modo que translates closer to "in such a way that." If you used it in this sentence, it would just put a little more stress on the fact that the sanding must be done in a very specific, careful manner to get the right result.
I usually translate quedar as "to stay" or "to be located." How does it mean "ends up" here?
Quedar is a very versatile verb. When it is followed by an adjective (like perfecto), it usually means "to turn out" or "to end up." It is the go-to verb for describing the final state or result of an action or process, which makes it incredibly common when talking about DIY projects, cooking, or getting haircuts!

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