recoger Negative Imperative Conjugation
recoger — to pick up
The negative imperative always uses a 'j': no recojas, no recoja, no recojamos, no recojáis, no recojan.
recoger Negative Imperative Forms
When to Use the Negative Imperative
Use this to tell someone NOT to pick something up or NOT to tidy up yet.
Notes on recoger in the Negative Imperative
All negative commands for 'recoger' are pulled from the present subjunctive, which means they all use a 'j' to keep the soft 'h' sound before the 'a'.
Example Sentences
No recojas la mesa todavía, no hemos terminado.
Don't clear the table yet, we haven't finished.
tú
No recoja el paquete sin identificación.
Do not pick up the package without identification.
No recojan las flores del parque.
Don't pick the flowers in the park.
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Saying 'no recoges' for a command.
Correct: no recojas
Why: Negative commands must use the subjunctive form, not the standard present indicative.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: recojo
Recoger has a spelling change in the 'yo' form (recojo) to keep the 'h' sound, but is otherwise regular.
Preterite
yo: recogí
The preterite of recoger is regular: recogí, recogiste, recogió, recogimos, recogisteis, recogieron.
Imperfect
yo: recogía
The imperfect of recoger is regular: recogía, recogías, recogía, recogíamos, recogíais, recogían.
Future
yo: recogeré
The future of recoger is regular: recogeré, recogerás, recogerá, recogeremos, recogeréis, recogerán.
Conditional
yo: recogería
The conditional of recoger is regular: recogería, recogerías, recogería, recogeríamos, recogeríais, recogerían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: recoja
The present subjunctive of recoger uses the 'j' spelling in all forms: recoja, recojas, recoja, recojamos, recojáis, recojan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: recogiera
The imperfect subjunctive of recoger is regular: recogiera, recogieras, recogiera, recogiéramos, recogierais, recogieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: recoge
The imperative uses 'recoge' (tú) and 'recoja' (usted). Note the 'j' in the formal and plural forms.