atrapar Negative Imperative Conjugation
atrapar — catch
Form negative commands for 'atrapar' using 'no' + present subjunctive: no atrapes, no atrape, no atrapen, no atrapemos, no atrapéis.
atrapar Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use the negative imperative to tell someone *not* to do something. For 'atrapar', it's like saying 'Don't catch...' For example, 'No atrapes esa araña' (Don't catch that spider).
Notes on atrapar in the Negative Imperative
All negative commands in Spanish use the present subjunctive. 'Atrapar' is regular in the present subjunctive, so the negative imperative is formed simply by adding 'no' to the present subjunctive forms.
Example Sentences
No atrapes esa mosca, por favor.
Don't catch that fly, please.
tú
No atrapemos al gato todavía.
Let's not catch the cat yet.
nosotros
No atrape usted al sospechoso sin nosotros.
Don't you (formal) catch the suspect without us.
usted
No atrapéis el balón si está sucio.
Don't you all (informal) catch the ball if it's dirty.
vosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using the infinitive instead of the subjunctive.
Correct: Say 'No atrapar', not 'No atrapar'.
Why: Negative commands require the subjunctive mood, not the infinitive.
Mistake: Confusing 'atrape' (usted/yo subjunctive) with 'atrapa' (tú imperative).
Correct: Remember 'No atrape' for formal commands (usted) and 'No atrapes' for informal commands (tú).
Why: These are distinct forms for different grammatical persons and moods.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: atrapo
The present tense of atrapar (atrapas, atrapa, atrapamos, etc.) describes current actions, habits, and general truths.
Preterite
yo: atrapé
The preterite of atrapar (atrapé, atrapaste, atrapó, etc.) describes completed actions in the past.
Imperfect
yo: atrapaba
The imperfect of atrapar (atrapaba, atrapabas, atrapaba, etc.) describes ongoing or habitual actions in the past.
Future
yo: atraparé
The future tense of atrapar (atraparé, atraparás, atrapará, etc.) indicates actions that will happen.
Conditional
yo: atraparía
The conditional of atrapar (atraparía, atraparías, atraparía, etc.) is used for hypotheticals ('would'), polite requests, and future-in-the-past.
Present Subjunctive
yo: atrape
The present subjunctive of atrapar (atrape, atrapes, atrapen, etc.) is used after expressions of doubt, desire, emotion, and uncertainty.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: atrapara
The imperfect subjunctive of atrapar (e.g., 'atrapase', 'atrapases', 'atrapáramos') expresses hypothetical or uncertain actions in the past.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: atrapa
Use 'atrapa' (tú), 'atrape' (usted), 'atrapen' (ustedes), 'atrapemos' (nosotros), and 'atrapad' (vosotros) for direct commands.