Other possible positions for "se" ?

Question

Hi, my question is regarding the quiz item:

Pedro is going to start thinking [and continue thinking] that we're silly.
Pedro se va a quedar pensando que somos dos tontas.

Are there other possibilities for the position of the "se" ? In particular, I'm wondering about these:

Pedro va a quedarse pensando que somos dos tontas.
Pedro va a quedar pensándose que somos dos tontas.

If either of those is grammatically correct, is there any difference in meaning/tone/frequency of usage?

Thanks!

Silvia Piriz · Accepted Answer

Hola Alan T.
That’s a great observation! Both of your proposed alternatives are grammatically correct, but there are some nuances in meaning and common usage:
1. "Pedro va a quedarse pensando que somos dos tontas."
This structure is perfectly natural and commonly used in spoken and written Spanish. Placing "se" at the end of "quedar" maintains fluency and is slightly more formal than placing it before the verb.
2. "Pedro va a quedar pensándose que somos dos tontas."
While technically possible, this construction sounds odd and uncommon in standard Spanish. The reflexive "se"attached to "pensando" would imply that Pedro is reflecting on himself rather than just thinking about the situation. This use of "pensarse" is rare and mainly occurs in very informal or regional speech.
Best choice?

"Pedro se va a quedar pensando…" (your original sentence) and "Pedro va a quedarse pensando…" are both correct and widely used.
"Pedro va a quedar pensándose…" is not standard and changes the meaning slightly, making it sound unnatural.

Hope this helps! Let me know if you’d like further clarification.
Hasta pronto
Silvia