¿Por qué caigo en vez de caí?

Question

We had a quiz in class ¿Hay o no hay error?

Por poco me caí. I said no hay error, but it should be caigo & I don't understand it. I almost fell down.

Answer 1

Isn't it a question of tense? If you're talking about the past, then you almost fell... but could be like "everytime I come down these stairs, I almost fall"... or from the present perspective in the past; "I was walking down the stairs. My foot slips and I almost fall, but I grab the rail and I'm okay".

However that is English, there may be other rules at play en Español

• Tks Alex, I'm looking for a rule & wondering if other verbs are similiar - motley Sep 30, 2009