atacar Present Conjugation
atacar — to attack
Atacar is a regular -ar verb in the present tense: ataco, atacas, ataca, atacamos, atacáis, atacan.
atacar Present Forms
When to Use the Present
Use the present tense to talk about current strategies, habitual behaviors (like an allergy attacking someone), or general facts.
Notes on atacar in the Present
Atacar is completely regular in the present indicative.
Example Sentences
La alergia me ataca siempre en primavera.
Allergies always attack me in the spring.
él/ella/usted
¿Por qué me atacas sin motivo?
Why are you attacking me without a reason?
tú
Nosotros atacamos primero en el juego.
We attack first in the game.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: ataquo
Correct: ataco
Why: Learners sometimes over-apply the 'qu' spelling change from the preterite. In the present, 'co' already makes the hard 'k' sound.
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Related Tenses
Preterite
yo: ataqué
The preterite of atacar features a spelling change in the 'yo' form (ataqué) to keep the hard 'k' sound.
Imperfect
yo: atacaba
The imperfect of atacar is regular: atacaba, atacabas, atacaba, atacábamos, atacabais, atacaban.
Future
yo: atacaré
The future of atacar is regular: just add the endings to the infinitive (atacaré, atacarás, etc.).
Conditional
yo: atacaría
The conditional of atacar is regular: atacaría, atacarías, atacaría, atacaríamos, atacaríais, atacarían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: ataque
The present subjunctive of atacar uses 'qu' in all forms: ataque, ataques, ataque, ataquemos, ataquéis, ataquen.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: atacara
The imperfect subjunctive of atacar is regular: atacara, atacaras, atacara, atacáramos, atacarais, atacaran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: ataca
The imperative of atacar gives direct orders: ataca (tú), atacad (vosotros), or ataque (usted).
Negative Imperative
yo: no ataques
Negative commands for atacar always use the 'qu' spelling: no ataques, no ataque, no ataquemos, no ataquéis, no ataquen.