Recaer Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb recaer means to relapse, to fall again, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Recaer means to relapse or to fall again, and it is used for falling ill again after recovering, falling back into a bad habit and a responsibility falling on someone. It follows the pattern of caer, with the present recaigo and the preterite recaí. Like every Spanish verb, recaer 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 recaigo en la enfermedad tras mejorar, and in the preterite you say recaí sobre sus hombros el trabajo. 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: recaer
- English: to relapse, to fall again
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -er
- Gerund: recayendo
- Past participle: recaído
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + recaído)
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for recaer, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Recaer follows caer: the present is recaigo and the preterite is recaí. The participle is recaído.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for recaer. 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 | recaigo |
| tú | recaes |
| él/ella/Ud. | recae |
| nosotros/as | recaemos |
| vosotros/as | recaéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recaen |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recaí |
| tú | recaíste |
| él/ella/Ud. | recayó |
| nosotros/as | recaímos |
| vosotros/as | recaísteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recayeron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recaía |
| tú | recaías |
| él/ella/Ud. | recaía |
| nosotros/as | recaíamos |
| vosotros/as | recaíais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recaían |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recaeré |
| tú | recaerás |
| él/ella/Ud. | recaerá |
| nosotros/as | recaeremos |
| vosotros/as | recaeréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recaerán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recaería |
| tú | recaerías |
| él/ella/Ud. | recaería |
| nosotros/as | recaeríamos |
| vosotros/as | recaeríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recaerían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he recaído |
| tú | has recaído |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha recaído |
| nosotros/as | hemos recaído |
| vosotros/as | habéis recaído |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han recaído |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había recaído |
| tú | habías recaído |
| él/ella/Ud. | había recaído |
| nosotros/as | habíamos recaído |
| vosotros/as | habíais recaído |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían recaído |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré recaído |
| tú | habrás recaído |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá recaído |
| nosotros/as | habremos recaído |
| vosotros/as | habréis recaído |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán recaído |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría recaído |
| tú | habrías recaído |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría recaído |
| nosotros/as | habríamos recaído |
| vosotros/as | habríais recaído |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían recaído |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recaiga |
| tú | recaigas |
| él/ella/Ud. | recaiga |
| nosotros/as | recaigamos |
| vosotros/as | recaigáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recaigan |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | recayera |
| tú | recayeras |
| él/ella/Ud. | recayera |
| nosotros/as | recayéramos |
| vosotros/as | recayerais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recayeran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | recae |
| él/ella/Ud. | recaiga |
| nosotros/as | recaigamos |
| vosotros/as | recaed |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recaigan |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | recaigas |
| él/ella/Ud. | recaiga |
| nosotros/as | recaigamos |
| vosotros/as | recaigáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | recaigan |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | recayendo | with estar for the progressive: estoy recayendo |
| Past participle | recaído | with haber for the perfect tenses: he recaído |
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: it follows the pattern of caer, with a -g- in the present (as in decaigo) and changes in the preterite and subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For recaer, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Recaigo en la enfermedad tras mejorar. 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: it follows the pattern of caer, with a -g- in the present (as in decaigo) and changes in the preterite and subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For recaer, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, recaí en el vicio después de un año. 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 recaer, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, recaía sobre sus hombros el trabajo. 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 recaer, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, recaeré en la depresión en invierno. 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 recaer, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Recaería en la enfermedad tras mejorar 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 recaer, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he recaído en el vicio después de un año. 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 recaer, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había recaído sobre sus hombros el trabajo 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 recaer, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré recaído en la depresión en invierno. 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 recaer, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría recaído en la enfermedad tras mejorar 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: it follows the pattern of caer, with a -g- in the present (as in decaigo) and changes in the preterite and subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For recaer, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él recaiga en el vicio después de un año. 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: it follows the pattern of caer, with a -g- in the present (as in decaigo) and changes in the preterite and subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For recaer, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él recayera sobre sus hombros el trabajo, 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: it follows the pattern of caer, with a -g- in the present (as in decaigo) and changes in the preterite and subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For recaer, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Recae en la depresión en invierno! 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: it follows the pattern of caer, with a -g- in the present (as in decaigo) and changes in the preterite and subjunctive. Learn the forms in the table rather than guessing them from the infinitive. For recaer, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No recaigas en la enfermedad tras mejorar. 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 recaer, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Recaigo en la enfermedad tras mejorar. — I relapse into illness after getting better.
- Recae en el vicio después de un año. — He/she relapses into the bad habit after a year.
- Ayer, recaí sobre sus hombros el trabajo. — Yesterday, I relapsed on his shoulders, the work.
- Antes, nosotros recaíamos en la depresión en invierno. — Before, we used to relapse into depression in winter.
- Mañana, tú recaerás en la enfermedad tras mejorar. — Tomorrow, you will relapse into illness after getting better.
- Yo recaería en el vicio después de un año si tuviera más tiempo. — I would relapse into the bad habit after a year if I had more time.
- Él ha recaído sobre sus hombros el trabajo. — He has relapsed on his shoulders, the work.
- Espero que él recaiga en la depresión en invierno. — I hope he relapses into depression in winter.
- Yo ya había recaído en la enfermedad tras mejorar antes de salir. — I had already relapsed into illness after getting better before leaving.
- Ellos recaían en el vicio después de un año cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to relapse into the bad habit after a year when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo recae en la enfermedad tras mejorar. — Right: Yo recaigo en la enfermedad tras mejorar. — The person matters: recae is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is recaigo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Yo he recaido sobre sus hombros el trabajo. — Right: Yo he recaído sobre sus hombros el trabajo. — The past participle of recaer is irregular: recaído, not recaido. Every perfect tense uses he recaído, había recaído and so on.
- Wrong: Treating recaer and recuperarse as identical in every context. — Right: Recaer means to relapse, to fall again, while recuperarse means to recover. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: recaer fits sentences such as Recaigo en la enfermedad tras mejorar, while recuperarse belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy recaído en el vicio después de un año. — Right: Yo he recaído en el vicio después de un año. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he recaído, has recaído, ha recaído. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo recaí sobre sus hombros el trabajo todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo recaía sobre sus hombros el trabajo todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (recaía), not the preterite. The preterite (recaí) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on recaer. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en la enfermedad tras mejorar. (present tense) A. recaigo B. recaes C. recae D. recaemos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ en el vicio después de un año. (preterite) A. recaí B. recaíste C. recayeron D. recayó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ sobre sus hombros el trabajo. (imperfect) A. recaías B. recaían C. recaíamos D. recaía
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ en la depresión en invierno. (future) A. recaeremos B. recaerás C. recaeré D. recaerá
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ en la enfermedad tras mejorar si pudiera. (conditional) A. recaería B. recaerías C. recaerían D. recaigo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ en el vicio después de un año. (present subjunctive) A. recaigas B. recaigamos C. recaigo D. recaiga
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ sobre sus hombros el trabajo, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. recayéramos B. recaigo C. recayera D. recayeras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ en la depresión en invierno. (present perfect) A. han recaído B. hemos recaído C. he recaído D. has recaído
Complete the command: ¡___ en la enfermedad tras mejorar! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. recae B. recaiga C. recaigamos D. recaed
Which is the gerund of recaer, used with estar for the progressive? A. recaído B. recaigo C. recaí D. recayendo
Answer key
- recaigo — The first-person present of recaer is recaigo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- recayó — The third-person preterite of recaer is recayó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- recaíamos — The nosotros imperfect of recaer is recaíamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- recaerás — The second-person future of recaer is recaerás.
- recaería — The first-person conditional of recaer is recaería, the form for what would happen.
- recaiga — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of recaer is recaiga.
- recayera — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of recaer is recayera.
- hemos recaído — The nosotros present perfect of recaer is hemos recaído: hemos + recaído.
- recae — The affirmative tú imperative of recaer is recae.
- recayendo — The gerund of recaer is recayendo: estoy recayendo. The participle recaído is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does recaer mean in English?
Recaer means to relapse, to fall again. It is used in everyday situations such as Recaigo en la enfermedad tras mejorar. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is recaer regular or irregular?
Recaer 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 recaer and recuperarse?
Recaer means to relapse, to fall again, while recuperarse means to recover. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use recaer when you mean to relapse, to fall again, as in Recaigo en la enfermedad tras mejorar, and use recuperarse for to recover. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I relapse” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo recaí en el vicio después de un año. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo recaía sobre sus hombros el trabajo. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he recaído en el vicio después de un año.
How do I practise recaer?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the recaer examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Recaer in the preterite tense — the full preterite-tense table for recaer.
- Recaer examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for recaer.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Decaer conjugation — another -er verb to compare with recaer.
- Prever conjugation — another -er verb to compare with recaer.
- Entrever conjugation — another -er verb to compare with recaer.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.