caiga

/KAH-ee-gah/

(that) I fall

A simplified storybook illustration showing a small human figure tumbling through the air, clearly descending towards the ground below.

This illustration depicts the subjunctive mood, meaning '(that) I fall,' showing the action of descending.

caiga(Verb (Conjugation))

A2irregular er

(that) I fall

Present Subjunctive (yo)

(that) he/she/it falls

Present Subjunctive (él/ella)

(that) you fall

Present Subjunctive (usted)

Also:

(that) it suits

Figurative use with 'caer bien/mal'

(that) it happens/lands

Referring to dates or responsibilities

📝 In Action

Espero que la pelota no caiga al suelo.

I hope the ball doesn't fall to the ground.

No creo que le caiga bien mi nuevo amigo.

I don't think my new friend suits him (or: that he likes my new friend).

Necesito que la responsabilidad caiga sobre mí.

I need the responsibility to fall upon me.

Word Connections

Synonyms

desplomarse (to collapse)
suceder (to happen (for figurative use))

Antonyms

levantarse (to get up)
subir (to rise)

Common Collocations

caiga en la trampa – (that) he/she falls into the trap
caiga bien – (that) he/she is liked

Idioms & Expressions

Caiga quien caiga – No matter what, come what may

💡 Grammar Points

The 'G' Irregularity

'Caer' is very irregular! The 'g' sound in 'caiga' is necessary because the first person 'yo' of the present indicative is 'caigo,' and the special subjunctive forms always borrow from that 'yo' form.

Subjunctive Trigger

You must use 'caiga' when the sentence involves a desire, emotion, doubt, or necessity, often after words like 'espero que' (I hope that) or 'no creo que' (I don't believe that).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up the Stem

Mistake: "Espero que *cae* la lluvia."

Correction: Espero que *caiga* la lluvia. (The indicative form 'cae' cannot follow 'espero que'.)

Omitting the 'G'

Mistake: "No quiero que *caias*."

Correction: No quiero que *caigas*. (Remember the required 'g' sound in the stem for all subjunctive forms.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Caer Bien/Mal

When talking about liking or disliking a person (their personality), use 'caer bien/mal.' For example, 'No quiero que me caiga mal' means 'I don't want to dislike him/her.'

A colorful storybook drawing showing a single person who has tripped over an invisible obstacle and is actively falling forward onto a flat surface.

As a formal command, 'caiga' means 'Fall!' This image captures the immediate action resulting from that instruction.

caiga(Verb (Command/Request))

B1irregular er

Fall!

Formal command (Usted)

Drop!

Formal command (Usted)

Also:

Let it fall!

When used impersonally

📝 In Action

Señor, no se mueva; ¡caiga lentamente!

Sir, don't move; fall slowly!

Caiga en la cuenta de lo que hizo.

Realize (fall into the account of) what you did. (Formal command.)

💡 Grammar Points

Formal Command Rule

In Spanish, formal commands (for 'Usted' and 'Ustedes') always use the same form as the present subjunctive. Therefore, 'caiga' is both the subjunctive form and the formal command.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the 'Tú' Command Form

Mistake: "Señor, *cae* el objeto."

Correction: Señor, *caiga* el objeto. (Use 'caiga' for formal requests; 'cae' is only for informal friends/family.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Negative Commands

If you want to tell someone formally NOT to fall, you use the same form: 'No caiga.' The negative command form is identical to the affirmative formal command.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: caiga

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'caiga' to express a wish or desire?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

caer(to fall) - verb

caída(fall, drop) - noun

caído(fallen) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does 'caer' suddenly have a 'g' in 'caiga'?

This is a feature of many irregular verbs in Spanish! The 'g' appears in the first person singular of the present indicative ('yo caigo') and carries over to the entire present subjunctive ('caiga', 'caigas', etc.). It helps to create a clear, distinct sound for these specific forms.

When do I use 'caiga' versus 'cae'?

Use 'caiga' when you are expressing doubt, desire, emotion, or necessity (the Subjunctive Mood): 'Dudo que caiga' (I doubt it will fall). Use 'cae' when stating a fact (Indicative Mood): 'La manzana cae' (The apple falls).