Los niños no caben en el carro.

The children do not fit in the car.

Breakdown of Los niños no caben en el carro.

• en: in
• el niño: the child
• no: not
• caber: to fit

Questions & Answers about Los niños no caben en el carro.

Why is it "caben" instead of "cabe"?

"Caben" is the third-person plural form of the verb caber—it corresponds to they (i.e., los niños). If the subject were singular (e.g., el niño), it would be cabe.

What does "caber" mean and how is it commonly used?

In general, caber means to fit. It expresses whether a person or thing fits into a space. For example:
• No quepo en estos zapatos = I don't fit in these shoes.
• Caben dos maletas en el baúl = Two suitcases fit in the trunk.

Why is the article "el" used before "carro"?

Spanish requires an article (definite or indefinite) before most nouns. Since the sentence refers to a specific car, the definite article el is appropriate. In English, you might say the car; similarly, in Spanish, it's el carro.

Is "carro" the only word for "car" in Spanish?

In many parts of Latin America, carro is the most common word for car. However, you may also hear auto (in countries like Argentina or Chile) or coche (more commonly in Spain). All are correct, but usage varies by region.

Why is it "Los niños" instead of "Los hijos"?