Follow along with this grammar lesson on the “Elegir” conjugation in Spanish!

Elegir is the Spanish verb for “to choose, or to select.” It is an irregular verb because its stem changes in certain conjugations, and the spelling adjusts to maintain pronunciation. It is commonly used when making decisions or picking between options.

​​Whether you’re a beginner in Spanish or looking to fine-tune your language skills, this comprehensive guide will help you navigate the regular beauty of “Elegir” with confidence and ease. 

Let’s dive in and enhance your Spanish language proficiency, one verb at a time.

Read more: THE 150 MOST COMMON SPANISH VERBS (IRREGULAR + REGULAR)

“Elegir” Conjugation Indicative / Indicativo

The indicative tense (el modo indicativo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The indicative mood is used to make factual statements, ask questions, and express opinions about actions or events that are considered real or certain.

Present Tense Elegir Conjugation / Presente

The present tense is used to describe actions happening in the present or to express general truths or habitual actions.

Yo	Elijo
Tú	Eliges
Él/Ella/Usted	Elige
Nosotros	Elegimos
Vosotros	Elegís
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Eligen

Examples:

1. Yo elijo el vestido azul. (I choose the blue dress.)
2. Tú eliges qué película vemos. (You choose which movie we watch.)
3. Ella elige un libro interesante. (She chooses an interesting book.)

Simple Past Elegir Conjugation / Pasado 

The simple past tense (preterite) is used to describe completed actions in the past, often with specific time frames or events.

Yo	Elegí
Tú	Elegiste
Él/Ella/Usted	Elegió
Nosotros	Elegimos
Vosotros	Elegisteis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Elegieron

Examples:

1. Tú elegiste el restaurante italiano. (You chose the Italian restaurant.)
2. Ella eligió un regalo para su amigo. (She chose a gift for their friend.)
3. Nosotros elegimos el asiento junto a la ventana. (We chose the seat by the window.)

Imperfect Elegir Conjugation / Imperfecto

Spanish imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing, repeated, or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the stage or provide background information

Yo	Elegía
Tú	Elegías
Él/Ella/Usted	Elegía
Nosotros	Elegíamos
Vosotros	Elegíais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Elegían

Examples:

1. Ustedes elegían siempre el mismo café. (You all used to choose the same coffee every time.)
2. Él elegía su ropa con mucho cuidado. (He used to choose his clothes very carefully.)
3. Yo elegía mis libros favoritos para leer antes de dormir. (I used to choose my favorite books to read before bed.)

Present Continuous / Presente Continuo

The present continuous tense (also known as “estar + gerundio”) is used to describe actions that are currently happening in the present moment or to express temporary situations.

Yo	Estoy eligiendo
Tú	Estás eligiendo
Él/Ella/Usted	Está eligiendo
Nosotros	Estamos eligiendo
Vosotros	Estáis eligiendo
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Están eligiendo

Examples:

1. Vosotros estáis eligiendo el mejor postre del menú. (You all are choosing the best dessert from the menu.)
2. Nosotros estamos eligiendo un destino para las vacaciones. (We are choosing a destination for the vacation.)
3. Tú estás eligiendo una nueva canción para escuchar. (You are choosing a new song to listen to.)

Future Tense Elegir Conjugation / Futuro

The Spanish future tense is used to express actions or events that will happen in the future, indicating something that has not yet occurred.

Yo	Elegiré
Tú	Elegirás
Él/Ella/Usted	Elegirá
Nosotros	Elegiremos
Vosotros	Elegiréis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Elegirán

Examples:

1. Yo elegiré el restaurante para la cena. (I will choose the restaurant for dinner.)
2. Nosotros elegiremos un buen regalo para mamá. (We will choose a good gift for mom.)
3. Ella elegirá la mejor opción para su carrera. (She will choose the best option for her career.)

Conditional Elegir Conjugation / Condicional

The conditional tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions or events that would happen under certain conditions in the present or future.

Yo	Elegiría
Tú	Elegirías
Él/Ella/Usted	Elegiría
Nosotros	Elegiríamos
Vosotros	Elegiríais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Elegirían

Examples:

1. Yo elegiría un perro como mascota. (I would choose a dog as a pet.)
2. Tú elegirías una película de comedia. (You would choose a comedy movie.)
3. Ellos elegirían viajar a España en verano. (They would choose to travel to Spain in the summer.)

Present Perfect / pretérito perfecto compuesto

Spanish present perfect tense (also known as “pretérito perfecto compuesto”) is used to express actions that have occurred in the past but have a connection to the present, emphasizing the result or consequences of those actions.

Yo	He elegido
Tú	Has elegido
Él/Ella/Usted	Ha elegido
Nosotros	Hemos elegido
Vosotros	Habéis elegido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Han elegido

Examples:

1. Vosotros habéis elegido un buen hotel para las vacaciones. (You all have chosen a good hotel for the vacation.)
2. Tú has elegido la opción más fácil. (You have chosen the easiest option.)
3. Yo he elegido un nuevo libro para leer. (I have chosen a new book to read.)

Past Perfect Elegir Conjugation / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto

Spanish past perfect tense (also known as “pretérito pluscuamperfecto”) is used to describe actions that occurred before another past action or event, expressing a past-in-the-past relationship.

Yo	Había elegido
Tú	Has elegido
Él/Ella/Usted	Había elegido
Nosotros	Hemos elegido
Vosotros	Habéis elegido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Han elegido

Examples:

1. Ellos han elegido un lugar especial para la fiesta. (They have chosen a special place for the party.)
2. Ella ha elegido un vestido hermoso para la boda. (She has chosen a beautiful dress for the wedding.)
3. Tú has elegido bien, ¡me encanta tu elección! (You have chosen well, I love your choice!)

Future Perfect / Futuro Perfecto

The Spanish future perfect tense is used to express actions that will have been completed in the future, indicating an action that will be finished before another specified future time or event.

Yo	Habré elegido
Tú	Habrás elegido
Él/Ella/Usted	Habrá elegido
Nosotros	Habremos elegido
Vosotros	Habréis elegido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrán elegido

Examples:

1. Nosotros habremos elegido un destino antes de fin de mes. (We will have chosen a destination by the end of the month.)
2. Tú habrás elegido tu carrera para el próximo año. (You will have chosen your career for next year.)
3. Usted habrá elegido un regalo para la ocasión especial. (You will have chosen a gift for the special occasion.)

Conditional Perfect / Condicional Perfect

The conditional perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or speculative actions that would have been completed in the past, indicating an action that would have happened prior to another past event.

Yo	Habría elegido
Tú	Habrías elegido
Él/Ella/Usted	Habría elegido
Nosotros	Habríamos elegido
Vosotros	Habríais elegido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Habrían elegido

Examples:

1. Yo habría elegido un camino diferente si hubiera sabido. (I would have chosen a different path if I had known.)
2. Tú habrías elegido un hotel más cercano al centro si lo hubieras investigado. (You would have chosen a hotel closer to downtown if you had researched it.)
3. Ellos habrían elegido otra película si hubieran tenido más opciones. (They would have chosen another movie if they had had more options.)

“Elegir” Conjugation Subjunctive / Subjuntivo

The subjunctive tense (el modo subjuntivo) is one of the three grammatical moods used to express different attitudes or purposes in speech. The subjunctive mood is used to express doubt, uncertainty, subjectivity, emotion, and hypothetical situations.

Present Tense / Presente

The Spanish subjunctive present tense is used to express subjective actions, desires, doubts, recommendations, or possibilities, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, necessity, or influence.

Yo	Elija
Tú	Elijas
Él/Ella/Usted	Elija
Nosotros	Elijamos
Vosotros	Elijáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Elijan

Examples:

1. Espero que yo elija el libro correcto para la clase. (I hope that I choose the right book for class.)
2. Es importante que usted elija un camino seguro. (It is important that you choose a safe path.)
3. Quiero que vosotros elijáis la música para la fiesta. (I want you all to choose the music for the party.)

Imperfect / Imperfecto

This tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past, often introduced by certain triggers such as expressions of doubt, uncertainty, or unreal conditions.

Yo	Eligiera
Tú	Eligieras
Él/Ella/Usted	Eligiera
Nosotros	Eligiéramos
Vosotros	Eligierais
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Eligieran

Examples:

1. Si ellos eligieran la mejor opción, todo sería más fácil. (If they chose the best option, everything would be easier.)
2. Si tú eligieras una película diferente, ¿cuál sería? (If you chose a different movie, which one would it be?)
3. Ojalá que nosotros eligiéramos un mejor lugar para la reunión. (I wish that we chose a better place for the meeting.)

Future Tense / Futuro

The Spanish subjunctive future tense is used to express hypothetical or uncertain actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the future.

Yo	Eligiere
Tú	Eligieres
Él/Ella/Usted	Eligiere
Nosotros	Eligiéremos
Vosotros	Eligiereis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Eligieren

Examples:

1. Cuando vosotros eligiereis el lugar para la fiesta, por favor, avísame. (When you all choose the place for the party, please let me know.)
2. Espero que yo eligiere la opción correcta en el examen. (I hope that I choose the right option on the exam.)
3. Si tú eligieres un libro interesante, todos querrán leerlo. (If you choose an interesting book, everyone will want to read it.)

Present Perfect / Pretérito Perfecto

Spanish subjunctive present perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the present with a connection to the past, indicating actions that would have been completed prior to the present moment.

Yo	Haya elegido
Tú	Hayas elegido
Él/Ella/Usted	Haya elegido
Nosotros	Hayamos elegido
Vosotros	Hayáis elegido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Hayan elegido

Examples:

1. Espero que ellos hayan elegido un buen lugar para la fiesta. (I hope that they have chosen a good place for the party.)
2. Es posible que nosotros hayamos elegido la mejor opción. (It is possible that we have chosen the best option.)
3. Quiero que vosotros hayáis elegido la música antes de que llegue la gente. (I want you all to have chosen the music before the guests arrive.)

Past Perfect / Pretérico Pluscuamperfecto

Spanish subjunctive past perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the past with a connection to a previous past event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that past event.

Yo	Hubiera elegido
Tú	Hubieras elegido
Él/Ella/Usted	Hubiera elegido
Nosotros	Hubiéramos elegido
Vosotros	Hubierais elegido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Hubieran elegido

Examples:

1. Si nosotros hubiéramos elegido otra ruta, habríamos llegado a tiempo. (If we had chosen another route, we would have arrived on time.)
2. Si yo hubiera elegido un libro diferente, lo habría disfrutado más. (If I had chosen a different book, I would have enjoyed it more.)
3. Si ustedes hubieran elegido otro lugar, la reunión habría sido más cómoda. (If you all had chosen another place, the meeting would have been more comfortable.)

Future Perfect / Futuro Perfecto

The future perfect tense is used to express hypothetical or unreal actions, desires, doubts, or recommendations in the future with a connection to a future event, indicating actions that would have been completed before that future event.

Yo	Hubiere elegido
Tú	Hubieres elegido
Él/Ella/Usted	Hubiere elegido
Nosotros	Hubiéremos elegido
Vosotros	Hubiereis elegido
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Hubieren elegido

Examples:

1. Cuando ellos hubieren elegido el ganador, lo anunciarán en la ceremonia. (When they have chosen the winner, they will announce it at the ceremony.)
2. Si tú hubieres elegido esa opción, ¿qué habría pasado? (If you have chosen that option, what would have happened?)
3. Si yo hubiere elegido el camino correcto, no habría tenido problemas. (If I have chosen the right path, I wouldn’t have had problems.)

“Elegir” Conjugation Imperative / Imperativo

The imperative tense (el modo imperativo) is one of the verb moods used to express commands, orders, or requests. It is used to tell someone what to do or what not to do.

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Affirmative / Afirmativos

Spanish affirmative refers to the use of positive statements or expressions that indicate agreement, confirmation, or positive response to a question or statement.

Yo	–
Tú	Elige
Él/Ella/Usted	Elija
Nosotros	Elijamos
Vosotros	Elegid
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	Elijan

Examples:

1. Elige el libro que más te guste. (Choose the book you like the most.)
2. Elija usted una mesa cerca de la ventana. (Choose a table near the window.)
3. Elegid la opción que consideréis mejor. (Choose the option you all consider best.)

Negative / Negativos

Spanish negative refers to the use of negative statements or expressions that indicate negation, denial, or disagreement with a question or statement.

Yo	–
Tú	No elijas
Él/Ella/Usted	No elija
Nosotros	No elijamos
Vosotros	No elijáis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes	No elijan

Examples:

1. No elijan esa película, es muy aburrida. (Don’t choose that movie; it’s very boring.)
2. No elijas el camino más largo, te retrasarás. (Don’t choose the longer path; you will be delayed.)
3. No elijamos un lugar que esté muy lejos. (Let’s not choose a place that is too far away.)

Put Your Spanish to the Test!

Mastering “Elegir” is about growing within the Spanish culture. Whether you’re just starting on your Spanish language adventure or seeking to refine your skills, knowing how to wield “Elegir” will help you navigate the linguistic landscape with confidence and fluency.

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