escoger Preterite Conjugation
escoger — to choose
The preterite of escoger is regular: escogí, escogiste, escogió, escogimos, escogisteis, escogieron.
escoger Preterite Forms
When to Use the Preterite
Use the preterite when the act of choosing is a one-time, completed event. It's perfect for when you finally made up your mind or picked a winner.
Notes on escoger in the Preterite
Escoger is completely regular in the preterite. Unlike the present tense, you keep the 'g' in all forms because it naturally makes the hard 'h' sound before 'í', 'i', and 'io'.
Example Sentences
Ayer escogí el vestido para la boda.
Yesterday I chose the dress for the wedding.
yo
¿Por qué escogiste ese camino?
Why did you choose that path?
tú
Ellos escogieron el restaurante más caro.
They chose the most expensive restaurant.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Writing 'escojí' with a 'j'.
Correct: escogí
Why: Learners often carry over the 'j' from the present tense 'escojo', but in the preterite, the 'g' is used because it followed by an 'i'.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: escojo
Escoger is regular except for the 'yo' form, which changes 'g' to 'j': escojo.
Imperfect
yo: escogía
The imperfect of escoger is regular: escogía, escogías, escogía, escogíamos, escogíais, escogían.
Future
yo: escogeré
The future of escoger is regular: escogeré, escogerás, escogerá, escogeremos, escogeréis, escogerán.
Conditional
yo: escogería
The conditional of escoger is regular: escogería, escogerías, escogería, escogeríamos, escogeríais, escogerían.
Present Subjunctive
yo: escoja
The present subjunctive of escoger uses 'j' in all forms: escoja, escojas, escoja, escojamos, escojáis, escojan.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: escogiera
The imperfect subjunctive of escoger is regular: escogiera, escogieras, escogiera, escogiéramos, escogierais, escogieran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: escoge
Give commands to choose: escoge (tú), escoja (usted), escojamos (nosotros), escoged (vosotros), escojan (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no escojas
Negative commands use 'j' and the present subjunctive: no escojas, no escoja, no escojamos, no escojáis, no escojan.