proteger Negative Imperative Conjugation
proteger — to protect
The negative imperative always uses 'j': no protejas, no proteja, no protejamos, no protejáis, no protejan.
proteger Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone not to protect something (perhaps if they are being overprotective).
Notes on proteger in the Negative Imperative
Since all negative commands use the present subjunctive forms, they all feature the 'g-to-j' spelling change.
Example Sentences
No protejas tanto a los niños; tienen que aprender.
Don't protect the children so much; they have to learn.
tú
No protejan a ese criminal.
Do not protect that criminal.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'no protege' for the negative tú command.
Correct: no protejas
Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive form, not the indicative 'tú' form.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: protejo
Proteger has a spelling change in the 'yo' form: protejo, proteges, protege, protegemos, protegéis, protegen.
Preterite
yo: protegí
The preterite of proteger is regular: protegí, protegiste, protegió, protegimos, protegisteis, protegieron.
Imperfect
yo: protegía
The imperfect of proteger is regular: protegía, protegías, protegía, protegíamos, protegíais, protegían.
Future
yo: protegeré
The future of proteger is regular: protegeré, protegerás, protegerá, protegeremos, protegeréis, protegerán.
Conditional
yo: protegería
The conditional of proteger is regular: protegería, protegerías, protegería, protegeríamos, protegeríais, protegerían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: proteja
The present subjunctive of proteger uses 'j' in all forms: proteja, protejas, proteja, protejamos, protejáis, protejan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: protegiera
The imperfect subjunctive of proteger is regular: protegiera, protegieras, protegiera, protegiéramos, protegierais, protegieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: protege
The imperative uses 'g' for 'tú' and 'vosotros', but 'j' for 'usted' and 'nosotros': protege, proteja, protejamos, proteged, protejan.