Skip to content
Spanish · Verb · #135 most common

elegir

to choose
to electvote

Irregular-ir ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Habitual actions, general truths, and what's happening now.

yoelijo
eliges
él/ellaelige
nosotroselegimos
vosotroselegís
ellos/ellaseligen

Elijo la camisa azul para la fiesta.

I choose the blue shirt for the party.

Ella elige siempre la opción más saludable.

She always chooses the healthiest option.

2.

Pretérito Indefinido

Completed actions at a specific point in the past.

yoelegí
elegiste
él/ellaeligió
nosotroselegimos
vosotroselegisteis
ellos/ellaseligieron

Ayer elegí el libro que quería leer.

Yesterday I chose the book I wanted to read.

Ellos eligieron al nuevo presidente la semana pasada.

They elected the new president last week.

3.

Imperfecto

Ongoing or repeated actions in the past, descriptions, and background context.

yoelegía
elegías
él/ellaelegía
nosotroselegíamos
vosotroselegíais
ellos/ellaselegían

Cuando era niño, elegía siempre el mismo juguete.

When I was a child, I always chose the same toy.

Ella elegía su ropa con mucho cuidado.

She chose her clothes very carefully.

4.

Futuro Simple

Future actions, predictions, and speculation about the present.

yoelegiré
elegirás
él/ellaelegirá
nosotroselegiremos
vosotroselegiréis
ellos/ellaselegirán

Mañana elegiré la película para ver.

Tomorrow I will choose the movie to watch.

Ellos elegirán un nuevo lugar para la reunión.

They will choose a new place for the meeting.

5.

Condicional

Hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future-in-the-past.

yoelegiría
elegirías
él/ellaelegiría
nosotroselegiríamos
vosotroselegiríais
ellos/ellaselegirían

Si tuviera dinero, elegiría viajar por el mundo.

If I had money, I would choose to travel the world.

Ella elegiría un coche eléctrico si pudiera.

She would choose an electric car if she could.

6.

Subjuntivo Presente

Wishes, doubts, emotions, and subordinate clauses expressing uncertainty.

yoelija
elijas
él/ellaelija
nosotroselijamos
vosotroselijáis
ellos/ellaselijan

Espero que elijas la mejor opción.

I hope you choose the best option.

Es importante que elijan un buen representante.

It's important that they choose a good representative.

7.

Subjuntivo Imperfecto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical si-clauses, and polite suggestions.

yoeligiera
eligieras
él/ellaeligiera
nosotroseligiéramos
vosotroseligierais
ellos/ellaseligieran

Si yo eligiera, iría a la playa.

If I were to choose, I would go to the beach.

Ojalá que ellos eligieran un camino diferente.

I wish they would choose a different path.

"elegir" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "elegir" regular or irregular in Spanish?
"elegir" is an irregular Spanish verb. It does not follow the standard -ir conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
How do you conjugate "elegir" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "elegir" conjugates as: eliges, elijo, eligen, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "elegir" in Spanish?
In the Pretérito Indefinido, "elegir" conjugates as: elegiste, elegí, eligieron, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "elegir" in Spanish?
"elegir" (to choose, to elect) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Spanish.