Recogerlos

Recogerlos is a Spanish verb phrase formed by the verb recoger (to pick up, to gather) together with the direct object pronoun los, referring to a masculine plural referent. The combination of a verb with a clitic pronoun is common in Spanish, and collecting the pronoun with the infinitive creates the unit recogerlos. This construction is used when the referenced items or people are masculine plural; if the referent is feminine plural, the form is recogerlas.

Uses and grammatical notes:

- It appears in periphrastic constructions with auxiliary verbs or other non-finite forms, for example: voy a recogerlos, tengo que recogerlos.

- The pronoun can also attach to non-finite forms such as the gerund: recoguiéndolos.

- In past tenses with haber, the past participle can combine with the pronoun in spoken language: los he recogido.

Pronunciation and spelling considerations:

- In imperative forms, spelling often includes an accent to preserve the original stress when the pronoun is attached. For example, tú affirmative: recógelos; usted: recójalos; ustedes: recójanlos. Negative commands place the pronoun after no and the verb in the subjunctive: no los recojas.

Semantic scope:

- Recogerlos primarily denotes picking up or collecting entities, whether objects or people, when the referent is masculine plural. The feminine plural counterpart is recogerlas. The meaning remains close to “to pick them up” in English, with context determining whether the act concerns physical objects, people, or other items.

See also: recoger, pronombres de objeto directo, perifrastic verbs.