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
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.
Marta escoge muy bien su ropa.
Marta chooses her clothes very well .
Siempre recojo mi habitación.
I always tidy up my room.
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