alcanzar Affirmative Imperative Conjugation
alcanzar — to reach
The imperative of alcanzar uses 'alcanza' for tú and 'alcance(n)' for formal commands.
alcanzar Affirmative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Affirmative Imperative
Use the imperative to tell someone to reach for something, catch up, or achieve a goal immediately.
Notes on alcanzar in the Affirmative Imperative
The formal commands (usted/ustedes) and 'nosotros' use the 'c' spelling (alcance) because of the 'e' ending.
Example Sentences
Alcanza esa caja, por favor.
Reach that box, please.
tú
Alcance su máximo potencial con este curso.
Reach your full potential with this course.
usted
Alcanzad a vuestros compañeros.
Catch up to your teammates.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: alcanze (usted form)
Correct: alcance
Why: Spelling change from 'z' to 'c' is required before the 'e' in the command form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: alcanzo
The present tense of alcanzar is regular: alcanzo, alcanzas, alcanza, alcanzamos, alcanzáis, alcanzan.
Preterite
yo: alcancé
Alcanzar has a spelling change in the yo form (alcancé) to maintain the soft 'c' sound.
Imperfect
yo: alcanzaba
The imperfect of alcanzar is regular: alcanzaba, alcanzabas, alcanzaba, alcanzábamos, alcanzabais, alcanzaban.
Future
yo: alcanzaré
The future of alcanzar uses the full infinitive as the base: alcanzaré, alcanzarás, alcanzará, alcanzaremos, alcanzaréis, alcanzarán.
Conditional
yo: alcanzaría
The conditional of alcanzar is regular: alcanzaría, alcanzarías, alcanzaría, alcanzaríamos, alcanzaríais, alcanzarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: alcance
The present subjunctive of alcanzar features a 'z' to 'c' spelling change in every form: alcance, alcances, alcance, etc.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: alcanzara
The imperfect subjunctive of alcanzar is regular based on the preterite stem: alcanzara, alcanzaras, alcanzara, alcanzáramos, alcanzarais, alcanzaran.
Negative Imperative
yo: no alcances
The negative imperative of alcanzar uses the present subjunctive forms with 'no'.