Meaning and behavior
What does caber mean?
Caber means to fit, enter ). VerbyGo classifies it as an irregular -ER verb. It is non-reflexive.
to traverse, pass through or across; to be held or contained (to be held inside (something) or passed through ).
Build from reliable parts
Principal forms
- Infinitive
- caber
- Gerund
- cabiendo
- Past participle
- cabido
Verified irregular pattern
How this verb behaves
Its forms differ from a fully regular -er pattern in the present, preterite, future.
Conjugation guide
Present forms
Present forms
Present
Use the present forms of caber for current situations, routines and actions that happen regularly.
| Subject | Caber |
|---|---|
| yo | quepo |
| tú | cabes |
| él / ella / usted | cabe |
| nosotros / nosotras | cabemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cabéis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | caben |
Conjugation guide
Past forms
Past forms
Preterite
Use the preterite when the action of caber is presented as completed in the past.
| Subject | Caber |
|---|---|
| yo | cupe |
| tú | cupiste |
| él / ella / usted | cupo |
| nosotros / nosotras | cupimos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cupisteis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | cupieron |
Past forms
Imperfect past
Use the imperfect for repeated or ongoing past uses of caber, or for background information.
| Subject | Caber |
|---|---|
| yo | cabía |
| tú | cabías |
| él / ella / usted | cabía |
| nosotros / nosotras | cabíamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cabíais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | cabían |
Conjugation guide
Future and conditional
Future and conditional
Simple future
Use the future forms of caber for predictions, promises and future statements.
| Subject | Caber |
|---|---|
| yo | cabré |
| tú | cabrás |
| él / ella / usted | cabrá |
| nosotros / nosotras | cabremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cabréis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | cabrán |
Future and conditional
Simple conditional
Use the conditional forms of caber for hypothetical or tactful statements.
| Subject | Caber |
|---|---|
| yo | cabría |
| tú | cabrías |
| él / ella / usted | cabría |
| nosotros / nosotras | cabríamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cabríais |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | cabrían |
Conjugation guide
Subjunctive forms
Subjunctive forms
Present subjunctive
Use these forms when a current wish, reaction, doubt or another trigger requires the subjunctive.
| Subject | Caber |
|---|---|
| yo | quepa |
| tú | quepas |
| él / ella / usted | quepa |
| nosotros / nosotras | quepamos |
| vosotros / vosotras | quepáis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | quepan |
Subjunctive forms
Imperfect subjunctive
Use these forms for past subjunctive contexts and hypothetical structures; the equivalent -se series is also accepted where supplied.
| Subject | Caber |
|---|---|
| yo | cupieraAlso accepted: cupiese |
| tú | cupierasAlso accepted: cupieses |
| él / ella / usted | cupieraAlso accepted: cupiese |
| nosotros / nosotras | cupiéramosAlso accepted: cupiésemos |
| vosotros / vosotras | cupieraisAlso accepted: cupieseis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | cupieranAlso accepted: cupiesen |
Verified context
Examples with caber
Cabe dentro de lo normal.
I think it's a possibility.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FREste estuche no cabrá en mi maleta.
This box won't fit in my suitcase.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FREn este autobús caben treinta personas.
The bus is capable of carrying thirty people.
Tatoeba example · CC BY 2.0 FR
Quick answers
Caber FAQ
What does caber mean?
Caber means to fit, enter ).
Is caber regular or irregular?
Caber is a irregular -ER verb.
What is the gerund of caber?
The gerund of caber is cabiendo.
What is the past participle of caber?
The past participle of caber is cabido.
How is caber conjugated in the present?
The verified public subject set is quepo, cabes, cabe, cabemos, caben.
How is caber conjugated in the preterite?
The verified public subject set is cupe, cupiste, cupo, cupimos, cupieron.
Created by Alejandro Ruiz, an experienced Spanish tutor.