
recoger Present Subjunctive Conjugation
recoger — to pick up
The present subjunctive of recoger uses the 'j' spelling in all forms: recoja, recojas, recoja, recojamos, recojáis, recojan.
recoger Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Use this when expressing wishes, doubts, or requests about picking something up (e.g., 'I want you to pick up your clothes').
Notes on recoger in the Present Subjunctive
Because the subjunctive is based on the 'yo' form of the present indicative (recojo), the 'j' carries through every single form to keep the soft 'h' sound before the 'a' endings.
Example Sentences
Espero que recojas tu cuarto hoy.
I hope you tidy your room today.
tú
Mi madre quiere que yo recoja a mi hermana.
My mother wants me to pick up my sister.
yo
Cuando recojamos los resultados, te llamaré.
When we pick up the results, I will call you.
nosotros
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Spelling it with a 'g' (e.g., 'recoga').
Correct: recoja
Why: In Spanish, 'ga' is a hard sound (like 'gas'). To keep the soft sound of 'recoger', you must use a 'j' before the letter 'a'.
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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.
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.
Negative Imperative
yo: no recojas
The negative imperative always uses a 'j': no recojas, no recoja, no recojamos, no recojáis, no recojan.