dosáhnout + Genitive

Genitive After Dosáhnout

Level 5

The verb dosáhnout (and its imperfective form dosahovat) requires the genitive case when talking about achieving an abstract goal, reaching a specific level, or attaining a state.

How It Works

Abstract Goals and Physical Destinations vs. Stretching
The most important distinction for advanced learners is between achieving/arriving and physically stretching:

  • dosáhnout + genitive: Used for abstract goals, levels, states, reaching an age, amount, or measurable threshold, AND arriving at a physical destination (e.g., dosáhnout cíle = to achieve a goal, dosáhnout dohody = to reach an agreement, dosáhnout vrcholu = to reach the summit, dosáhnout břehu = to reach the shore). Like vážit si or účastnit se, it takes the bare genitive without a preposition.
  • dosáhnout na + accusative: Primarily used for physical stretching to touch or grab something (e.g., dosáhnout na poličku = to reach the shelf). Note: In modern Czech, this is also used metaphorically for qualifying for financial thresholds (e.g., dosáhnout na hypotéku = to qualify for a mortgage).
  • dosáhnout + kam (directional): Used when talking about physical extension, length, or reaching a spatial limit with directional prepositions (e.g., dosáhnout až ke stropu = to reach all the way to the ceiling, dosáhnout do skříně = to reach into the closet).

Pronoun Usage: toho vs. to
Because this verb requires the genitive, learners frequently make mistakes when trying to say 'achieve that', defaulting to the accusative to. You must use the genitive pronoun toho (e.g., Jak toho chcete dosáhnout? = How do you want to achieve that?).

Reaching a Person (False Friend)
English speakers often try to use dosáhnout to mean 'reaching someone' (e.g., on the phone or by email). This is incorrect in Czech. To express reaching a person, use verbs like zastihnout (to catch/reach someone), dovolat se (to reach by phone), or spojit se s (to get in touch with).

Register and Usage
Using the bare accusative for abstract goals (e.g., dosáhnout cíl) is a common colloquial error or Slovakism and is definitively not accepted in standard Czech. You must strictly use the genitive for abstract achievements to ensure your Czech is grammatically correct.

Examples (4)

  1. Konečně jsme dosáhli dohody.

    We finally reached an agreement.

    Word by Word: Finally we reached agreement.

    The noun 'dohoda' becomes the genitive 'dohody'. This is an abstract achievement, so the bare genitive is required.

  2. Firma letos dosáhla rekordního zisku.

    The company achieved a record profit this year.

    Word by Word: Company this-year achieved record profit.

    The phrase 'rekordní zisk' changes to the genitive 'rekordního zisku' to express attaining a specific amount or success.

  3. Pacient dosáhl velmi vysokého věku.

    The patient reached a very advanced age.

    Word by Word: Patient reached very high age.

    Reaching a specific age, level, or point in time is treated as an abstract progression and takes the genitive.

  4. Teplota v noci dosahovala bodu mrazu.

    The temperature reached freezing point during the night.

    Word by Word: Temperature in night was-reaching point of-frost.

    This uses the imperfective 'dosahovat' with the genitive 'bodu mrazu' to describe a continuous or repeated state of reaching a level.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the accusative case for abstract goals instead of the required genitive.

    Náš tým včera dosáhl velký úspěch.
    Náš tým včera dosáhl velkého úspěchu.

    Because most Czech verbs take the accusative, learners often overgeneralize. However, using the accusative with 'dosáhnout' for abstract goals is a grammatical error (or a Slovakism) and is not accepted in standard Czech. You must strictly use the genitive.

  • Mixing the abstract and physical patterns by adding the preposition 'na'.

    Po dlouhém jednání jsme dosáhli na kompromis.
    Po dlouhém jednání jsme dosáhli kompromisu.

    'Dosáhnout na + accusative' is for physical reaching (or financial qualification). For abstract agreements and goals, use the bare genitive without any preposition.

  • Using 'dosáhnout' to mean reaching a person on the phone or by email.

    Zkoušel jsem mu zavolat, ale nemohl jsem ho dosáhnout.
    Zkoušel jsem mu zavolat, ale nemohl jsem se mu dovolat.

    'Dosáhnout' cannot be used for contacting people. This is a false friend from English. Use 'zastihnout' (to catch/reach someone) or 'dovolat se' (to reach by phone) instead.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

dosáhnout + GenitiveLevel 5Genitive After Dosáhnout

Learn This First

To use 'dosáhnout + genitiv', a learner must be familiar with the genitive case endings for nouns. Additionally, since 'dosáhnout' is a perfective verb formed with a resultative prefix, understanding verbal aspect and the semantics of the prefix 'do-' (reaching a goal) is crucial.

Words in This Pattern

dosáhnout