Spanish verbs ending in -ger and -gir replace the -g- with a -j- only in the yo form in El Presente. This is to maintain the original sound of the infinitive.
This table shows two verbs that follow this pattern:
| PROTEGER to protect |
DIRIGIR to lead |
|
| yo | protejo | dirijo |
| tú | proteges | diriges |
|
él / ella |
protege | dirige |
| nosotros nosotras |
protegemos | dirigimos |
| vosotros vosotras |
protegéis | dirigís |
| ellos / ellas ustedes |
protegen | dirigen |
Notice how the -g- from the infinitive has switched to a -j- in the yo form.
Other verbs affected by this change are:
- Coger (to take)
- Acoger (to take in)
- Recoger (to pick up)
- Escoger (to choose)
- Exigir (to demand)
- Sumergir (to plunge)
- Fingir (to pretend)
Have a look and listen to these examples:
Yo cojo el autobús todos los días.
I take the bus every day.
Siempre recojo mi habitación.
I always tidy up my room.
Marta escoge muy bien su ropa.
Marta chooses her clothes very well .
Nosotros protegemos el medio ambiente con el reciclaje.
We protect the environment by recycling.
Mis abuelos exigen respeto para los mayores.
My grandparents demand respect for the elderly.
Ustedes acogen a niños sirios durante el verano.
You take in Syrian children during the summer.
Yo protejo a mi hija demasiado.
I protect my daughter too much.
For more verbs that follow this pattern see List of -ger/-gir stem-changing verbs (g > j).
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Marta escoge muy bien su ropa.
Marta chooses her clothes very well .
Siempre recojo mi habitación.
I always tidy up my room.
Nosotros protegemos el medio ambiente con el reciclaje.
We protect the environment by recycling.
Yo cojo el autobús todos los días.
I take the bus every day.
Mis abuelos exigen respeto para los mayores.
My grandparents demand respect for the elderly.
Yo protejo a mi hija demasiado.
I protect my daughter too much.
Ustedes acogen a niños sirios durante el verano.
You take in Syrian children during the summer.
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