Spanish language Q&A Forum

Do the brackets around “a” mean that it can be used at the speaker’s discretion, or its use sometimes or always required? 

Could I have said, “Os animo que vengáis” or “Me han animado comprar un perro” ?

It offers solutions with LESS impact.   I put MENOS impacto and don't understand why this is incorrect. I understand MENOR to mean smaller or younger

Gracias

I have only now noticed that I read 'brought' for 'bought', but the rest of my question stands.

In the question "En el viaje ________ un niño atrás", the answer was 'se nos quedó'. Could you give a literal translation of this sentence because otherwise it seems like the verb agrees with the object of the sentence rather than the subject. I guess I'm asking for a way of translating quedar in my head so that even if it makes the English awkward, I can also keep straight subject and object (much like I can substitute "is pleasing" for gustar). 

Thanks! 

Could you please provide a list with the most common ones at the end of the lesson?