Alcanzar conjugation Spanish verb

How alcanzar conjugates

Alcanzar is regular in sound, but z changes to c before e, because Spanish does not normally write ze. That affects the yo preterite (alcancé) and every present subjunctive form (alcance, alcances, alcancemos, alcancen), and so the usted, nosotros and ustedes commands too. In the meaning to be enough, it behaves like gustar: no me alcanza, ¿te alcanzó?

Alcanzar in example sentences

• Present

  Con este sueldo no me alcanza para pagar el alquiler.

  With this salary I don't have enough to pay the rent.

• Preterite

  Este trimestre alcanzamos los objetivos de ventas.

  This quarter we reached our sales targets.

• Imperfect

  El niño no alcanzaba el botón del ascensor.

  The boy couldn't reach the elevator button.

• Future

  Si salimos ahora, alcanzaremos el último tren.

  If we leave now, we'll catch the last train.

• Present perfect

  No he alcanzado a leer todo el informe.

  I haven't managed to read the whole report.

• Present subjunctive

  Espero que el presupuesto alcance para contratar a otra persona.

  I hope the budget is enough to hire another person.

• Conditional

  Con más publicidad alcanzaríamos a un público más joven.

  With more advertising we would reach a younger audience.

• Affirmative commands

  Alcánzame el cargador, por favor.

  Pass me the charger, please.

Common phrases with alcanzar

alcanzar un objetivo / una meta

to reach a goal

no alcanzar (el dinero, el tiempo)

not to be enough (money, time)

alcanzar a + infinitive

to manage to (do something)

alcanzarle algo a alguien

to pass / hand something to someone

alcanzar a alguien

to catch up with someone

Mistakes to avoid

• Writing *alcanzé* or *alcanze*. Before e, z becomes c: alcancé, alcance.
• Saying *No tengo bastante tiempo para alcanzar* when you mean you didn't manage. Use alcanzar a: No alcancé a terminarlo.
• Making the person the subject in the enough meaning: No me alcanza el dinero, not *No alcanzo el dinero*.

Alcanzar tense by tense

• Alcanzar present
• Alcanzar preterite
• Alcanzar imperfect
• Alcanzar future
• Alcanzar conditional
• Alcanzar present subjunctive
• Alcanzar affirmative commands

Related verbs

• empezar to begin; to start
• comenzar to begin; to start
• realizar to carry out; to do; to make (a payment); to fulfill
• utilizar to use; to make use of

Most common Spanish verbs

• ser
• estar
• tener
• haber
• hacer
• ir
• poder
• decir
• dar
• ver
• saber
• querer

All Spanish verbs · Spanish grammar lessons by level