Meaning and Use
The verb caer means to fall in English. It is often used to describe something physically falling or dropping, but can also be used metaphorically to describe falls in status, temperatures, or other contexts involving decline or drop.
Verb Type
Caer is an irregular verb in Spanish. Its conjugations do not always follow regular patterns, especially in the present tense and preterite.
Present Tense Conjugation
Here is how caer conjugates in the present tense, showing its irregular forms:
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | caigo | I fall | Yo caigo cuando corro. | I fall when I run. |
| tú | caes | you fall | Tú caes por la escalera. | You fall down the stairs. |
| él/ella/usted | cae | he/she/you fall | Ella cae en la nieve. | She falls in the snow. |
| nosotros/as | caemos | we fall | Nosotros caemos de la bicicleta. | We fall off the bike. |
| vosotros/as | caéis | you all fall | Vosotros caéis en el juego. | You all fall in the game. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | caen | they/you fall | Ellos caen en el parque. | They fall in the park. |
Other Important Tenses
- In the preterite, caer is also irregular, often showing a "y" in the third person forms:
| Spanish Pronoun | Spanish Conjugation | English Conjugation | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | caí | I fell | Yo caí ayer. | I fell yesterday. |
| tú | caíste | you fell | Tú caíste en el hielo. | You fell on the ice. |
| él/ella/usted | cayó | he/she/you fell | Ella cayó de la silla. | She fell off the chair. |
| nosotros/as | caímos | we fell | Nosotros caímos juntos. | We fell together. |
| vosotros/as | caísteis | you all fell | Vosotros caísteis rápido. | You all fell quickly. |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | cayeron | they/you fell | Ellos cayeron en la batalla. | They fell in the battle. |
Usage Notes
Caer can be combined with prepositions to expand meaning, such as caer en (to fall into), caer de (to fall from), or used in reflexive form caerse when referring specifically to oneself falling down.
Example:
- Me caí corriendo. – I fell running.
- Las hojas caen en otoño. – Leaves fall in autumn.
This verb is essential in everyday conversation and storytelling when describing accidents, natural phenomena, or sudden changes.
