The verb caber is irregular and primarily appears in the first-person singular form quepo in the present tense. It is not commonly used in the past participle form and typically appears in the infinitive, simple tenses, and conditional/future forms. The core meaning is about fitting—whether something can physically fit inside a container, space, or arrangement.

Conjugation Charts

The main irregularity is in the first-person singular forms of several tenses. Other forms follow regular patterns for -er verbs.

Present Indicative

PersonSpanish ConjugationEnglish Conjugation
yoquepoI fit
cabesyou fit
él/ella/ustedcabehe/she fits
nosotroscabemoswe fit
vosotroscabéisyou all fit
ellos/ellas/ustedescabenthey fit

Preterite Indicative

PersonSpanish ConjugationEnglish Conjugation
yocupeI fit / I managed to fit
cupisteyou fit
él/ella/ustedcupohe/she fit
nosotroscupimoswe fit
vosotroscupisteisyou all fit
ellos/ellas/ustedescupieronthey fit

Imperfect Indicative

PersonSpanish ConjugationEnglish Conjugation
yocabíaI used to fit
cabíasyou used to fit
él/ella/ustedcabíahe/she used to fit
nosotroscabíamoswe used to fit
vosotroscabíaisyou all used to fit
ellos/ellas/ustedescabíanthey used to fit

Future Indicative

PersonSpanish ConjugationEnglish Conjugation
yocabréI will fit
cabrásyou will fit
él/ella/ustedcabráhe/she will fit
nosotroscabremoswe will fit
vosotroscabréisyou all will fit
ellos/ellas/ustedescabránthey will fit

Conditional Indicative

PersonSpanish ConjugationEnglish Conjugation
yocabríaI would fit
cabríasyou would fit
él/ella/ustedcabríahe/she would fit
nosotroscabríamoswe would fit
vosotroscabríaisyou all would fit
ellos/ellas/ustedescabríanthey would fit

Present Subjunctive

PersonSpanish ConjugationEnglish Conjugation
yoquepaI fit / I may fit
quepasyou fit / you may fit
él/ella/ustedquepahe/she fits / may fit
nosotrosquepamoswe fit / we may fit
vosotrosquepáisyou all fit / may fit
ellos/ellas/ustedesquepanthey fit / they may fit

Imperfect Subjunctive (–ra form)

PersonSpanish ConjugationEnglish Conjugation
yocupieraI fit / I might fit
cupierasyou fit / you might fit
él/ella/ustedcupierahe/she fits / might fit
nosotroscupiéramoswe fit / we might fit
vosotroscupieraisyou all fit / might fit
ellos/ellas/ustedescupieranthey fit / might fit

Imperative

PersonSpanish ConjugationEnglish Conjugation
cabefit!
ustedquepafit (formal)!
nosotrosquepamoslet’s fit!
vosotroscabedfit (you all)!
ustedesquepanfit (you all formal)!

Usage Rules

Meaning and Usage

  • Caber means “to fit,” indicating whether something can be contained or accommodated within a space.
  • It can be used for physical objects, clothes, containers, or even abstract concepts like ideas or time.

Common Prepositions

  • en + [noun] — most common: ¿Cabe en la caja? (Does it fit in the box?)
  • dentro de — more formal or specific: Cabe dentro del armario. (It fits inside the closet.)

Two Common Forms

  • Interrogative/negative with caber + preposition + noun: ¿Cabe en la maleta? No, no cabe.
  • Impersonal with caber + de + noun: Cabía de sobra en la mochila. (There was plenty of room in the backpack.)

Synonyms and Alternatives

  • Entrar — to enter: ¿Entra en la caja? (Similar meaning, but more about “entering”)
  • Ajustar — to adjust: Se ajusta perfectamente. (Fits perfectly, more about size/shape)

Examples and Patterns

Spanish ExampleEnglish ExampleExplanation
¿Cabe este libro en la mochila?Does this book fit in the backpack?Standard question about fitting an object into a container.
No, no cabe.No, it doesn’t fit.Simple negative response.
Caben seis personas en el coche.Six people fit in the car.Expresses capacity.
¿Cuánto cabe en este jarro?How much fits in this jug?Asks about volume or capacity.
Ya no cabe nadie más.No one else fits anymore.Used with nadie for “no one else.”
¿Crees que quepa todo en la maleta?Do you think everything will fit in the suitcase?Subjunctive quepa used for uncertainty or possibility.
Cabía de sobra dentro de la caja.It easily fit inside the box.Impersonal + de sobra (more than enough).
Si cabrías, trae más libros.If you fit, bring more books.Conditional cabrías in a polite request.

Additional Notes

  • Caber* is seldom used in continuous (progressive) tenses.
  • It often occurs in idiomatic expressions like no cabe duda (there’s no doubt).
  • Mastering caber helps with talking about packing, organizing, and estimating space.

Flashcards (1 of 55)

  • Person: yo
  • English Conjugation: I fit

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

Loco