Meaning and Usage
The verb caber means to fit in English. It is used to express whether something fits inside another object, such as clothes fitting a person or items fitting inside a container. Caber is an irregular verb in Spanish, especially in the present tense, where it changes its stem.
Present Tense Conjugation
In the present tense, caber is irregular. It changes to quepo in the first person singular, while the other forms follow the regular "-er" verb endings.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | quepo | I fit | Yo quepo en esta camisa. | I fit in this shirt. |
| tú | cabes | you fit | ¿Tú cabes en ese asiento? | Do you fit in that seat? |
| él/ella/usted | cabe | he/she fits | Ella cabe en el coche nuevo. | She fits in the new car. |
| nosotros | cabemos | we fit | Nosotros cabemos en el ascensor. | We fit in the elevator. |
| vosotros | cabéis | you all fit | Vosotros cabéis en la habitación. | You all fit in the room. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | caben | they fit | Ellos no caben en el autobús. | They do not fit in the bus. |
Preterite Tense Conjugation
The preterite tense of caber is also irregular, with a stem change to cup- for all forms.
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | cupe | I fit | Yo cupe en la caja pequeña. | I fit in the small box. |
| tú | cupiste | you fit | ¿Tú cupiste en el asiento? | Did you fit in the seat? |
| él/ella/usted | cupo | he/she fit | Él cupo en la mochila sin problemas. | He fit in the backpack without problems. |
| nosotros | cupimos | we fit | Nosotros cupimos en el coche viejo. | We fit in the old car. |
| vosotros | cupisteis | you all fit | Vosotros cupisteis en la sala pequeña. | You all fit in the small room. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | cupieron | they fit | Ellos cupieron en el elevador justo a tiempo. | They fit in the elevator just in time. |
Imperfect and Other Tenses
The imperfect tense of caber is regular and conjugates like other "-er" verbs, for example, cabía, cabías, etc. This tense is used to describe ongoing or habitual past actions related to fitting.
Common Expressions with Caber
Caber is often used in common phrases to talk about physical space or capacity. Examples include:
- No cabe duda – "There is no doubt"
- Caber en algo – "To fit in something"
- Describing if ideas or plans fit within certain limits or conditions.
Summary
The verb caber is essential for expressing physical or metaphorical capacity in Spanish. Its irregular conjugations, especially in the present and preterite tenses, are important to master for clear communication about fitting.
