Alcanzar when it comes to money
This seems like a very versatile verb. If I'm correct I take it's most common meaning to catch up with or to reach.
I recently came across it in this sentence:
si les alcanzará el dinero .....
The English text I was comparing it to said - 'if I/they can afford it' - so how does alcanzar work here?
3 Answers
You would use it like gustar, that's why the "les" is in there. You are literally saying "If the money reaches to them...." which of course would be translated to "if they can afford it."
"No me compré ese carro porque no me alcanzó el dinero" = "I didn't buy that car because I couldn't afford it."
"Esperanzadamente esta comida les va a alcanzar a todos, ya que no sabía que tantas vendrían." "Hopefully this food is enough to go around for everyone, since I didn't know so many would show up."
I think that it would mean reach in the sense of attain. I have seen this verb used many ways, too. It's a nice verb, isn't it?
si les alcanzará el dinero .....
If their money stretches far enough / is sufficient ...
