caes
/kah-es/
you fall
When used literally, caes means 'you fall'.
caes(verb)
you fall
?present tense, informal singular
,you drop
?present tense, informal singular
you collapse
?physical state
📝 In Action
Si no miras dónde vas, caes en el agujero.
A1If you don't watch where you're going, you will fall into the hole.
¿Por qué siempre caes en la misma trampa?
B1Why do you always fall into the same trap?
💡 Grammar Points
Irregular 'Yo' Form
The 'yo' form of 'caer' is irregular: 'yo caigo'. This is an important exception to remember.
Vowel Change in Past Tense
In the simple past (preterite), the 'i' changes to a 'y' for the third-person forms: 'él cayó', 'ellos cayeron'. This helps the word flow better.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'G'
Mistake: "Saying 'yo caeo' instead of 'yo caigo'."
Correction: Always include the 'g' in the 'yo' form and all present subjunctive forms (caiga, caigas, etc.).
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Caerse'
When talking about falling down and hurting yourself, Spanish often adds 'se' (caerse) to emphasize the action happened to you: 'Me caí' (I fell).
Caes can refer to the impression you make on others, like how someone 'comes across' (e.g., well or poorly).
caes(verb)
you come across (as)
?in the sense of perception (e.g., 'caer bien/mal')
,you are liked/disliked
?figurative meaning, usually with 'bien' or 'mal'
you happen
?when referring to dates or events
📝 In Action
¿Crees que le caes bien a mi jefe?
A2Do you think my boss likes you (do you come across well to him)?
Nunca caes mal, eres muy amable.
B1You never come across badly, you are very kind.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Caer' for Liking
This meaning works like the verb 'gustar'. The person being liked is the subject, and the person doing the liking is the indirect object: 'Me caes bien' (You fall well to me = I like you).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Tener' instead of 'Caer'
Mistake: "Saying 'Tengo buena impresión de ti' (I have a good impression of you)."
Correction: The natural Spanish expression is 'Me caes bien' (You come across well to me).
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Dates
You can use 'caer' to say when a date or holiday happens: 'La Navidad cae en lunes' (Christmas falls on a Monday).
In a social context, caes means 'you drop by' or 'you spontaneously visit'.
caes(verb)
you drop by
?to visit spontaneously
,you pop in
?to make a brief, informal visit
you swing by
?informal visit
📝 In Action
Si estás cerca, ¿por qué no caes un rato?
B2If you are close by, why don't you drop by for a while?
Siempre caes sin avisar, ¡es una sorpresa!
C1You always stop by without warning, it's a surprise!
💡 Grammar Points
Context is Key
When used in the context of location ('caer por aquí'), it means to visit. This is an extension of the idea of 'landing' somewhere.
⭐ Usage Tips
More Casual than 'Visitar'
'Caer' implies a more spontaneous, less formal visit than the verb 'visitar'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: caes
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase correctly translates the meaning of 'caes' in the sentence: 'Siempre caes en los trucos de tu hermano.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the base form of 'caes'?
The base form is the infinitive verb 'caer,' which means 'to fall' or 'to drop'.
Is 'caes' a regular verb form?
'Caes' itself (tú present tense) follows the normal pattern for '-er' verbs, but the verb 'caer' is considered irregular because the 'yo' form ('caigo') and the simple past tense (like 'cayó') have special changes.