Caer Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb caer means to fall, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Caer means to fall, and it covers falling down, rain falling, leaves falling, prices falling and night falling. It is one of the most frequent irregular verbs in Spanish, with caigo in the present and cayó in the preterite, and it appears in idioms such as caer bien, to make a good impression. Like every Spanish verb, caer 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 caigo al suelo por el hielo, and in the preterite you say caí la lluvia sobre la ciudad. 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: caer
- English: to fall
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -er
- Gerund: cayendo
- Past participle: caído
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + caído)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for caer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Caer is irregular: yo caigo, él cayó, yo caiga. The y appears in the third-person preterite: cayó, cayeron.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for caer. 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 | caigo |
| tú | caes |
| él/ella/Ud. | cae |
| nosotros/as | caemos |
| vosotros/as | caéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | caen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | caí |
| tú | caíste |
| él/ella/Ud. | cayó |
| nosotros/as | caímos |
| vosotros/as | caísteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cayeron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | caía |
| tú | caías |
| él/ella/Ud. | caía |
| nosotros/as | caíamos |
| vosotros/as | caíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | caían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | caeré |
| tú | caerás |
| él/ella/Ud. | caerá |
| nosotros/as | caeremos |
| vosotros/as | caeréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | caerán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | caería |
| tú | caerías |
| él/ella/Ud. | caería |
| nosotros/as | caeríamos |
| vosotros/as | caeríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | caerían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he caído |
| tú | has caído |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha caído |
| nosotros/as | hemos caído |
| vosotros/as | habéis caído |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han caído |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había caído |
| tú | habías caído |
| él/ella/Ud. | había caído |
| nosotros/as | habíamos caído |
| vosotros/as | habíais caído |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían caído |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré caído |
| tú | habrás caído |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá caído |
| nosotros/as | habremos caído |
| vosotros/as | habréis caído |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán caído |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría caído |
| tú | habrías caído |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría caído |
| nosotros/as | habríamos caído |
| vosotros/as | habríais caído |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían caído |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | caiga |
| tú | caigas |
| él/ella/Ud. | caiga |
| nosotros/as | caigamos |
| vosotros/as | caigáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | caigan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | cayera |
| tú | cayeras |
| él/ella/Ud. | cayera |
| nosotros/as | cayéramos |
| vosotros/as | cayerais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | cayeran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | cae |
| él/ella/Ud. | caiga |
| nosotros/as | caigamos |
| vosotros/as | caed |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | caigan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | caigas |
| él/ella/Ud. | caiga |
| nosotros/as | caigamos |
| vosotros/as | caigáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | caigan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | cayendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy cayendo |
| Past participle | caído | with haber for the perfect tenses: he caído |
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: the present adds a g (caigo), and the preterite inserts a y in the third person (cayó, cayeron). For caer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Caigo al suelo por el hielo. 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: the present adds a g (caigo), and the preterite inserts a y in the third person (cayó, cayeron). For caer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, caí de la escalera en casa. 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 caer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, caía la lluvia sobre la ciudad. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For caer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, caeré las hojas en otoño. 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. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For caer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Caería al suelo por el hielo 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 caer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he caído de la escalera en casa. 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 caer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había caído la lluvia sobre la ciudad 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 caer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré caído las hojas en otoño. 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 caer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría caído al suelo por el hielo 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: the present adds a g (caigo), and the preterite inserts a y in the third person (cayó, cayeron). For caer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él caiga de la escalera en casa. 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: the present adds a g (caigo), and the preterite inserts a y in the third person (cayó, cayeron). For caer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él cayera la lluvia sobre la ciudad, 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: the present adds a g (caigo), and the preterite inserts a y in the third person (cayó, cayeron). For caer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡cae las hojas en otoño! 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: the present adds a g (caigo), and the preterite inserts a y in the third person (cayó, cayeron). For caer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No caigas al suelo por el hielo. 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 caer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Caigo al suelo por el hielo. — I fall to the ground on the ice.
- Cae de la escalera en casa. — He/she falls down the stairs at home.
- Ayer, caí la lluvia sobre la ciudad. — Yesterday, I fell the rain on the city.
- Antes, nosotros caíamos las hojas en otoño. — Before, we used to fall the leaves in autumn.
- Mañana, tú caerás al suelo por el hielo. — Tomorrow, you will fall to the ground on the ice.
- Yo caería de la escalera en casa si tuviera más tiempo. — I would fall down the stairs at home if I had more time.
- Él ha caído la lluvia sobre la ciudad. — He has fallen the rain on the city.
- Espero que él caiga las hojas en otoño. — I hope he falls the leaves in autumn.
- Yo ya había caído al suelo por el hielo antes de salir. — I had already fallen to the ground on the ice before leaving.
- Ellos caían de la escalera en casa cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to fall down the stairs at home when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo cae al suelo por el hielo. — Right: Yo caigo al suelo por el hielo. — The person matters: cae is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is caigo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo cao de la escalera en casa. — Right: Yo caigo de la escalera en casa. — Caer is irregular: the present is yo caigo, never cao.
- Wrong: Ayer, yo caió la lluvia sobre la ciudad. — Right: Ayer, yo cayó la lluvia sobre la ciudad. — Caer is irregular: the third-person preterite is cayó, with a y, never caió.
- Wrong: Treating caer and caerse as identical in every context. — Right: Caer means to fall, while caerse means to fall down yourself, the reflexive form. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: caer fits sentences such as Caigo al suelo por el hielo, while caerse belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy caído de la escalera en casa. — Right: Yo he caído de la escalera en casa. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he caído, has caído, ha caído. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on caer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ al suelo por el hielo. (present tense) A. caigo B. caes C. cae D. caemos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ de la escalera en casa. (preterite) A. caí B. caíste C. cayeron D. cayó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ la lluvia sobre la ciudad. (imperfect) A. caías B. caían C. caíamos D. caía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ las hojas en otoño. (future) A. caeremos B. caerás C. caeré D. caerá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ al suelo por el hielo si pudiera. (conditional) A. caería B. caerías C. caerían D. caigo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ de la escalera en casa. (present subjunctive) A. caigas B. caigamos C. caigo D. caiga
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ la lluvia sobre la ciudad, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. cayéramos B. caigo C. cayera D. cayeras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ las hojas en otoño. (present perfect) A. han caído B. hemos caído C. he caído D. has caído
Complete the command: ¡___ al suelo por el hielo! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. cae B. caiga C. caigamos D. caed
Which is the gerund of caer, used with estar for the progressive? A. caído B. caigo C. caí D. cayendo
Answer key
- caigo — The first-person present of caer is caigo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- cayó — The third-person preterite of caer is cayó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- caíamos — The nosotros imperfect of caer is caíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- caerás — The second-person future of caer is caerás.
- caería — The first-person conditional of caer is caería, the form for what would happen.
- caiga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of caer is caiga.
- cayera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of caer is cayera.
- hemos caído — The nosotros present perfect of caer is hemos caído: hemos + caído.
- cae — The affirmative tú imperative of caer is cae.
- cayendo — The gerund of caer is cayendo: estoy cayendo. The participle caído is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does caer mean in English?
Caer means to fall. It is used in everyday situations such as Caigo al suelo por el hielo. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is caer regular or irregular?
Caer is irregular in present, preterite, 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 caer and caerse?
Caer means to fall, while caerse means to fall down yourself, the reflexive form. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use caer when you mean to fall, as in Caigo al suelo por el hielo, and use caerse for to fall down yourself, the reflexive form. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I fall” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo caí de la escalera en casa. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo caía la lluvia sobre la ciudad. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he caído de la escalera en casa.
How do I practise caer?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the caer examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Caer in the preterite tense — the full preterite-tense table for caer.
- Caer examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for caer.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Caber conjugation — another -er verb to compare with caer.
- Coger conjugation — another -er verb to compare with caer.
- Cometer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with caer.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.