Caber Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Quiz, and PDF

Do you want to fit the caber conjugation into your Spanish studies? If so, this is just the post for you!

Caber is an irregular Spanish -ER verb that means “to fit” (usually as in “to accommodate” or “to fit in”). In this lesson, we’ll examine caber conjugation and learn multiple forms, encompassing three moods: 

• Indicative (present, past, conditional, and future)
• Subjunctive (present and past)
• Imperative 

The Ultimate Guide to Caber Conjugation

Because this is a comprehensive guide to caber conjugation, you may not be familiar with all the tenses and forms shown. However, with consistent practice, you’ll soon be an expert at using Spanish verbs.

Be sure to try out your fresh caber conjugation skills with the quiz at the end of this article!

Caber Conjugation: Verbals

For our first caber conjugations, you need to learn the following two verb forms:

1. Conjugation of haber + past participle of caber
2. Conjugation of estar + gerund form of caber

These compound tenses involve using the helping verbs haber and estar. The conjugation changes in these tenses happen within the helping verbs, while the form of Caber stays the same. 

The infinitive form of the verb is caber.

Pueden caber alrededor de 25 personas en una lancha.
About 25 people can fit in a boat.

No vas a creer lo que puede caber en el closet.
You’re not gonna believe what you can fit in the closet.

The past participle of caber is cabido.

Me sorprende que haya cabido.
I’m surprised she fit.

No habría cabido en uno pequeño.
It wouldn’t have fit in a little jar.

The gerund form of Caber is cabiendo.

De una manera, esto está cabiendo.
In a way, this is fitting.

Caber Conjugation: Indicative Mood

Present simple

No quepo en esta silla. 
I don’t fit in this chair.

Todos cabemos en un carro. 
We all fit in one car.

Todos los alumnos caben en el autobús. 
All the students fit in the bus.

Past Simple

El gatito cupo en la caja de madera.
The kitten fit in the wooden box.

Las maletas no cupieron en el carrito de Jose.
There wasn’t room for the suitcases in Jose’s small car.

Ese grupo enorme de turistas cupo en el Gran Cañón. 
That huge group of tourists fit in at the Grand Canyon.

Past Imperfect

Antonia no cabía en sí de alegría.
Antonia was beside herself with joy.

Esto es algo que no cabía esperar.
This is not something we should expect to happen.

Conditional

La caja cabría si fuese más pequeña. 
The box would fit if it were smaller.

Eso es lo que cabría solicitar en tal situación.
That is what would be called for in that situation.

Future Simple

Yo cabré en la tina, aunque esta sea pequeña. 
I will fit in the bathtub, even though it is small.

Mi bebé cabrá en esa silla de carro. 
My baby will fit in that car seat.

Caber Conjugation: Subjunctive Mood

We use the subjunctive mood to talk about hypotheses, hopes, wishes, or uncertainty.

Present Subjunctive

No les quepa ninguna duda.
Be in no doubt about this.

¡Ojalá que se quepan todas!
I hope there’ll be room for all of them!

Past Subjunctive

Yo lo haría si cupiera.
I would do it if I could get in there.

La grieta era lo suficientemente grande como para que cupiese una mujer.
The crevice was wide enough for a woman.

Caber conjugation in the past subjunctive mood can either end in –era or -ese. Both ways are accepted, although -era is more common and informal. When writing a formal letter, I suggest you use the verb ending -ese. This also applies to the next tense.

Past Perfect Subjunctive

For the past perfect subjunctive tense, we use the auxiliary verb haber and the past participle of caber.

En cualquier caso, es algo mejor de lo que hubiera cabido esperar.
It is certainly better than it might have been.

Present Perfect Subjunctive

For the perfect subjunctive tense we use the auxiliary verb haber and the past participle of caber.

No puedo creerme que haya cabido en esos pantalones viejos.
I can’t believe I slipped into those old pants.

Note: the future subjunctive tense exists but is rarely used, so I’m not including it in this lesson.

Caber Conjugation: Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is used to give commands. These tenses don’t include most of the subject pronouns since you can’t give commands in the first person singular (yo) or plural (nosotros) or the third person (él, ella, ellos, ellas). 

We don’t really use the verb caber in the imperative, as it would sound strange or illogical to give someone an order to “fit.” The rare instances of the imperative caber would likely be used in a humorous context.

Caber Conjugation Quiz

The best way to solidify your Caber conjugation knowledge is by practicing! Check your understanding by completing the following quiz. 

Exercise 1

Identify the tense and pronoun of each Caber conjugation.

1. cabría

2. quepamos

3. cabe

4. cabiste

5. quepo

Exercise 2

Conjugate caber in the tense given.

1. yo – present simple subjunctive

2. tú – past imperfect

3. usted – past simple 

4. ellas – conditional 

5. nosotros – future simple

Exercise 3

Fill in the blank with the correct form of Caber.

1. ¿Todos _______ en el camión? (present simple)

2. No me ______ más espacio en mi panza después de la rica cena anoche. (past simple) 

3. Tuve que partirlo para que _______ en la caja. (past subjunctive) 

4. Tres personas __________ en este apartamento. (conditional) 

5. No me _______ ninguna duda. (past imperfect) 

Exercise 4

Translate the following sentences to English.

1. ¿Cabremos todos en la Tierra? 

2. Hay que hacer que toda la ropa quepa en una sola maleta.

3. Me sorprende que la gata haya cabido en ese espacio chiquito.

4. Mi casa entera podría caber en esta cocina.

5. Yo quería ver si aún quepo en este disfraz.

Click here to see the answer key!

Discover a New Level of Spanish 

Congratulations! You’ve just learned a lot about caber conjugation in Spanish. The next step is to develop a speaking practice to solidify your new knowledge. A terrific way to make it happen is by practicing caber conjugation, among other things, with one of our native Spanish-speaking teachers from Guatemala. Engage in meaningful real-life conversations and improve your Spanish skills today by signing up for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy!

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar? Check these out!

• Solo vs Solamente: What’s the Difference?
• What Is an Infinitive in Spanish?
• How To Use the Spanish Verb ‘Parecer’
• Having Fun in Spanish Using the Verb ‘Divertirse’
• How to Use the ‘Personal A’ in Spanish: Do’s and Don’ts
• Hacer Conjugation: Free Spanish Lesson, Exercises, and PDF
• How To Write Dates in Spanish
• ‘Tener’ Subjunctive Mood: How To Use It the Right Way

Answer Key

Exercise 1

1. yo/él, ella, usted – conditional

2. nosotros – present subjunctive

3.  ellos, ellas, ustedes – simple present indicative 

4. tú – past simple

5. yo – simple present indicative

Exercise 2

1. quepa

2. cabías

3. cabió

4. cabrían

5. cabrémos

Exercise 3

1. caben

2. cupe

3. cupiera

4. cabrían

5. cabía

Exercise 4 

1. Will all of us fit on Earth?

2. All these clothes have to go in one suitcase.

3. I’m surprised the cat fit in that tiny space.

4. My entire house could fit in this kitchen.

5. I wanted to see if I still fit into this costume.

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Michelle Margaret Fajkus

Editor & Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

Michelle Margaret Fajkus is a bilingual writer and longtime yoga teacher. A former advertising copywriter turned bilingual elementary school teacher, she is now a freelance writer, editor and translator. A native Texan, Michelle has Mexican roots and learned Spanish in middle and high school. She has become more fluent thanks to living as an expat in Guatemala. She lives with her family on beautiful Lake Atitlan.

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