caber Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
caber — to fit
The imperative uses 'cabe' for 'tú' but switches to 'quep-' for formal commands.
caber Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
While rare for 'caber' (you can't usually command something to fit), it's used in abstract or figurative instructions.
Notes on caber in the Affirmative Imperative
The 'tú' form is 'cabe' (regular), but 'usted', 'nosotros', and 'ustedes' use the subjunctive 'quep-' stem.
Example Sentences
Cabe ahí, no te muevas.
Fit in there, don't move.
tú
Quepamos con dignidad en este espacio pequeño.
Let's fit with dignity in this small space.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'quepa' for the tú command.
Correct: cabe
Why: The affirmative 'tú' command normally uses the 3rd person singular of the present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: quepo
Caber is irregular only in the 'yo' form (quepo); all other forms follow the regular -er pattern.
Preterite
yo: cupe
Caber is highly irregular in the preterite, using the stem 'cup-' for all persons.
Imperfect
yo: cabía
Caber is completely regular in the imperfect: cabía, cabías, cabía, cabíamos, cabíais, cabían.
Future
yo: cabré
The future tense of caber uses the irregular stem 'cabr-'.
Conditional
yo: cabría
The conditional uses the same irregular stem as the future: 'cabr-'.
Present Subjunctive
yo: quepa
The present subjunctive is based on the irregular 'yo' form, using the stem 'quep-'.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cupiera
The imperfect subjunctive uses the irregular preterite stem 'cup-'.
Negative Imperative
yo: no quepas
Negative commands for caber always use the 'quep-' stem from the present subjunctive.