Caber Conjugation in Spanish

The Spanish verb caber means to fit, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Caber means to fit, and it is used for things fitting into a space: a suitcase fits in the car, a book fits on the shelf, ten people fit in the room, you fit in a dress. It is one of the most irregular verbs in Spanish, with quepo in the present, cupe in the preterite and cabré in the future, and it must be learned as a set. Like every Spanish verb, caber changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say quepo en la maleta del viaje, and in the preterite you say cupe en la estantería del salón. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.

Quick facts

  • Infinitive: caber
  • English: to fit
  • Verb type: irregular verb
  • Ending: -er
  • Gerund: cabiendo
  • Past participle: cabido
  • Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + cabido)

Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for caber, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Caber is highly irregular: yo quepo, yo cupe, yo cabré, yo quepa. Learn the four stems — quep-, cup-, cabr- and quep- — as a set.

Full conjugation tables

Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for caber. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.

Present indicative

Person Form
yo quepo
tú cabes
él/ella/Ud. cabe
nosotros/as cabemos
vosotros/as cabéis
ellos/ellas/Uds. caben

Preterite

Person Form
yo cupe
tú cupiste
él/ella/Ud. cupo
nosotros/as cupimos
vosotros/as cupisteis
ellos/ellas/Uds. cupieron

Imperfect

Person Form
yo cabía
tú cabías
él/ella/Ud. cabía
nosotros/as cabíamos
vosotros/as cabíais
ellos/ellas/Uds. cabían

Future

Person Form
yo cabré
tú cabrás
él/ella/Ud. cabrá
nosotros/as cabremos
vosotros/as cabréis
ellos/ellas/Uds. cabrán

Conditional

Person Form
yo cabría
tú cabrías
él/ella/Ud. cabría
nosotros/as cabríamos
vosotros/as cabríais
ellos/ellas/Uds. cabrían

Present perfect

Person Form
yo he cabido
tú has cabido
él/ella/Ud. ha cabido
nosotros/as hemos cabido
vosotros/as habéis cabido
ellos/ellas/Uds. han cabido

Pluperfect

Person Form
yo había cabido
tú habías cabido
él/ella/Ud. había cabido
nosotros/as habíamos cabido
vosotros/as habíais cabido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habían cabido

Future perfect

Person Form
yo habré cabido
tú habrás cabido
él/ella/Ud. habrá cabido
nosotros/as habremos cabido
vosotros/as habréis cabido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrán cabido

Conditional perfect

Person Form
yo habría cabido
tú habrías cabido
él/ella/Ud. habría cabido
nosotros/as habríamos cabido
vosotros/as habríais cabido
ellos/ellas/Uds. habrían cabido

Present subjunctive

Person Form
yo quepa
tú quepas
él/ella/Ud. quepa
nosotros/as quepamos
vosotros/as quepáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. quepan

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Person Form
yo cupiera
tú cupieras
él/ella/Ud. cupiera
nosotros/as cupiéramos
vosotros/as cupierais
ellos/ellas/Uds. cupieran

Imperative (affirmative)

Person Form
tú cabe
él/ella/Ud. quepa
nosotros/as quepamos
vosotros/as cabed
ellos/ellas/Uds. quepan

Imperative (negative)

Person Form
tú quepas
él/ella/Ud. quepa
nosotros/as quepamos
vosotros/as quepáis
ellos/ellas/Uds. quepan

Gerund and past participle

Form Spanish Use
Gerund cabiendo with estar for the progressive: estoy cabiendo
Past participle cabido with haber for the perfect tenses: he cabido

How to use each tense

Present indicative

Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. This tense is irregular for this verb: caber uses the stems quep- in the present, cup- in the preterite and cabr- in the future, so learn these forms as a set. For caber, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Quepo en la maleta del viaje. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Preterite

Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. This tense is irregular for this verb: caber uses the stems quep- in the present, cup- in the preterite and cabr- in the future, so learn these forms as a set. For caber, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, cupe en el coche con las maletas. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect

Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For caber, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, cabía en la estantería del salón. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future

Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. This tense is irregular for this verb: caber uses the stems quep- in the present, cup- in the preterite and cabr- in the future, so learn these forms as a set. For caber, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, cabré en el armario del dormitorio. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional

Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. This tense is irregular for this verb: caber uses the stems quep- in the present, cup- in the preterite and cabr- in the future, so learn these forms as a set. For caber, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Cabría en la maleta del viaje si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present perfect

Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For caber, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he cabido en el coche con las maletas. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Pluperfect

Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For caber, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había cabido en la estantería del salón antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Future perfect

Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For caber, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré cabido en el armario del dormitorio. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Conditional perfect

Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For caber, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría cabido en la maleta del viaje con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Present subjunctive

Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. This tense is irregular for this verb: caber uses the stems quep- in the present, cup- in the preterite and cabr- in the future, so learn these forms as a set. For caber, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él quepa en el coche con las maletas. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)

Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. This tense is irregular for this verb: caber uses the stems quep- in the present, cup- in the preterite and cabr- in the future, so learn these forms as a set. For caber, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él cupiera en la estantería del salón, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (affirmative)

Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. This tense is irregular for this verb: caber uses the stems quep- in the present, cup- in the preterite and cabr- in the future, so learn these forms as a set. For caber, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡cabe en el armario del dormitorio! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Imperative (negative)

Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. This tense is irregular for this verb: caber uses the stems quep- in the present, cup- in the preterite and cabr- in the future, so learn these forms as a set. For caber, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No quepas en la maleta del viaje. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.

Example sentences

Ten natural sentences with caber, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.

  1. Quepo en la maleta del viaje. — I fit in the travel suitcase.
  2. Cabe en el coche con las maletas. — He/she fits in the car with the suitcases.
  3. Ayer, cupe en la estantería del salón. — Yesterday, I fit on the living-room shelf.
  4. Antes, nosotros cabíamos en el armario del dormitorio. — Before, we used to fit in the bedroom wardrobe.
  5. Mañana, tú cabrás en la maleta del viaje. — Tomorrow, you will fit in the travel suitcase.
  6. Yo cabría en el coche con las maletas si tuviera más tiempo. — I would fit in the car with the suitcases if I had more time.
  7. Él ha cabido en la estantería del salón. — He has fit on the living-room shelf.
  8. Espero que él quepa en el armario del dormitorio. — I hope he fits in the bedroom wardrobe.
  9. Yo ya había cabido en la maleta del viaje antes de salir. — I had already fit in the travel suitcase before leaving.
  10. Ellos cabían en el coche con las maletas cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to fit in the car with the suitcases when they were young.

Common mistakes

  1. Wrong: Yo cabe en la maleta del viaje. — Right: Yo quepo en la maleta del viaje. — The person matters: cabe is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is quepo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
  2. Wrong: Yo cabo en el coche con las maletas. — Right: Yo quepo en el coche con las maletas. — Caber is highly irregular: the present is yo quepo, never cabo.
  3. Wrong: Ayer, yo cabí en la estantería del salón. — Right: Ayer, yo cupe en la estantería del salón. — Caber is highly irregular: the preterite is yo cupe, never cabí.
  4. Wrong: Treating caber and entrar as identical in every context. — Right: Caber means to fit, while entrar means to go in or fit into a place. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: caber fits sentences such as Quepo en la maleta del viaje, while entrar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
  5. Wrong: Yo soy cabido en el coche con las maletas. — Right: Yo he cabido en el coche con las maletas. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he cabido, has cabido, ha cabido. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.

Quiz: test yourself

Ten questions on caber. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.

  1. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en la maleta del viaje. (present tense) A. quepo B. cabes C. cabe D. cabemos

  2. Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ en el coche con las maletas. (preterite) A. cupe B. cupiste C. cupieron D. cupo

  3. Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ en la estantería del salón. (imperfect) A. cabías B. cabían C. cabíamos D. cabía

  4. Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ en el armario del dormitorio. (future) A. cabremos B. cabrás C. cabré D. cabrá

  5. Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en la maleta del viaje si pudiera. (conditional) A. cabría B. cabrías C. cabrían D. quepo

  6. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en el coche con las maletas. (present subjunctive) A. quepas B. quepamos C. quepo D. quepa

  7. Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ en la estantería del salón, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. cupiéramos B. quepo C. cupiera D. cupieras

  8. Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en el armario del dormitorio. (present perfect) A. han cabido B. hemos cabido C. he cabido D. has cabido

  9. Complete the command: ¡___ en la maleta del viaje! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. cabe B. quepa C. quepamos D. cabed

  10. Which is the gerund of caber, used with estar for the progressive? A. cabido B. quepo C. cupe D. cabiendo

Answer key

  1. quepo — The first-person present of caber is quepo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
  2. cupo — The third-person preterite of caber is cupo, the form for a single finished action in the past.
  3. cabíamos — The nosotros imperfect of caber is cabíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
  4. cabrás — The second-person future of caber is cabrás.
  5. cabría — The first-person conditional of caber is cabría, the form for what would happen.
  6. quepa — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of caber is quepa.
  7. cupiera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of caber is cupiera.
  8. hemos cabido — The nosotros present perfect of caber is hemos cabido: hemos + cabido.
  9. cabe — The affirmative tú imperative of caber is cabe.
  10. cabiendo — The gerund of caber is cabiendo: estoy cabiendo. The participle cabido is used with haber instead.

Frequently asked questions

What does caber mean in English?

Caber means to fit. It is used in everyday situations such as Quepo en la maleta del viaje. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.

Is caber regular or irregular?

Caber is irregular in present, preterite, future, conditional, present-subjunctive, imperfect-subjunctive, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative. The other tenses follow the regular pattern. Learn the irregular forms from the tables above rather than guessing them from the infinitive.

What is the difference between caber and entrar?

Caber means to fit, while entrar means to go in or fit into a place. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use caber when you mean to fit, as in Quepo en la maleta del viaje, and use entrar for to go in or fit into a place. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.

How do I say “I fit” in the past?

It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo cupe en el coche con las maletas. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo cabía en la estantería del salón. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he cabido en el coche con las maletas.

How do I practise caber?

Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the caber examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.

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