alcanzar Negative Imperative Conjugation
alcanzar — to reach
The negative imperative of alcanzar uses the present subjunctive forms with 'no'.
alcanzar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone NOT to reach for something (perhaps it's dangerous) or to stop trying to catch up.
Notes on alcanzar in the Negative Imperative
All forms use the 'c' spelling change because all endings in this tense start with 'e'.
Example Sentences
¡No alcances ese cable! Es peligroso.
Don't reach for that cable! It's dangerous.
tú
No alcancen conclusiones precipitadas.
Don't reach (jump to) hasty conclusions.
ustedes
No alcancemos ese límite todavía.
Let's not reach that limit yet.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: no alcanzas (for the command)
Correct: no alcances
Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive form, not the present indicative.
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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.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: alcanza
The imperative of alcanzar uses 'alcanza' for tú and 'alcance(n)' for formal commands.