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:
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:
For more verbs that follow this pattern see Verb list: -ger/-gir stem-changing verbs (g > j).
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