caber Negative Imperative Conjugation
caber — to fit
Negative commands for caber always use the 'quep-' stem from the present subjunctive.
caber Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Used to tell someone or something not to fit/try to fit into a space.
Notes on caber in the Negative Imperative
All forms (no quepas, no quepa, etc.) are identical to the present subjunctive.
Example Sentences
No quepas en ese hueco, es peligroso.
Don't fit (try to fit) into that gap, it's dangerous.
tú
No quepan todos a la vez por la puerta.
Don't all fit (try to go) through the door at once.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'no cabas'.
Correct: no quepas
Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive stem, which for caber is 'quep-'.
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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-'.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cabe
The imperative uses 'cabe' for 'tú' but switches to 'quep-' for formal commands.