cavar Present Subjunctive Conjugation
cavar — to dig
Use present subjunctive forms like 'cave' (yo) and 'caven' (ellos) after expressions of doubt, desire, or emotion.
cavar Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
This tense is for actions or states that are uncertain, desired, or influenced by emotions. Think of phrases like 'Espero que caves bien' (I hope you dig well) or 'Dudo que caven tanto.' (I doubt they dig that much).
Notes on cavar in the Present Subjunctive
Cavar is regular in the present subjunctive, following the pattern for -ar verbs. The forms are identical to the negative imperative and the affirmative nosotros imperative.
Example Sentences
Espero que caves un hoyo para la semilla.
I hope you dig a hole for the seed.
tú
Quiero que él cave la zanja hoy.
I want him to dig the ditch today.
él/ella/usted
Dudamos que caven suficiente tierra.
We doubt they dig enough soil.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Es posible que cavemos en otro lugar.
It's possible that we dig in another place.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the present indicative instead of the present subjunctive.
Correct: After verbs of doubt, desire, or emotion, use the present subjunctive: 'Espero que caves', not 'Espero que cavas'.
Why: The indicative states facts or certainties, while the subjunctive expresses subjectivity and uncertainty.
Mistake: Forgetting that the 'nosotros' form is the same as the affirmative imperative.
Correct: The 'nosotros' form 'cavemos' serves as both the present subjunctive and the affirmative nosotros imperative.
Why: This shared form is a common pattern in Spanish verb conjugation.
Master Spanish verbs in context
Memorizing tables only gets you so far. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories to see verbs like 'cavar' used naturally — in the tenses you're learning.
Related Tenses
Present
yo: cavo
Use the present tense like 'cavo' (yo) and 'cavan' (ellos) for current actions, habits, or general truths about digging.
Preterite
yo: cavé
Use preterite forms like 'cavé' (yo) and 'cavaron' (ellos) for completed digging actions in the past.
Imperfect
yo: cavaba
Use the imperfect like 'cavaba' (yo) and 'cavaban' (ellos) for ongoing or habitual past actions (used to dig, was digging).
Future
yo: cavaré
Future forms like 'cavaré' (yo) and 'cavarán' (ellos) indicate actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: cavaría
Use conditional forms like 'cavaría' (yo) and 'cavarían' (ellos) for hypothetical ('would dig') or polite requests.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: cavara
Use the imperfect subjunctive like 'cavara' or 'cavase' for past hypotheticals, wishes, or polite requests.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cava
Use imperative forms like 'cava' (tú) and 'caven' (ustedes) for direct commands related to digging.
Negative Imperative
yo: no caves
Use negative commands like 'no caves' (tú) and 'no caven' (ustedes) to tell someone not to dig.