A storybook illustration showing a small child holding a single red apple firmly in their hand. Two other apples, green and yellow, rest on the ground nearby, indicating the choice has been made.

elegí

eh-leh-HEE

Verb (past tense form)A2Irregular (stem-changing e>i in certain forms) ir

I chose?Simple past action,I selected?Simple past action

Also:I picked out?When referring to objects

Quick Reference

gerundeligiendo

infinitiveelegir

past Participleelegido

📝 In Action

Ayer elegí la opción más difícil.

Yesterday I chose the most difficult option.

Elegí este vestido para la boda de mi hermana.

I selected this dress for my sister's wedding.

De todas las universidades, elegí la que estaba más cerca de casa.

Out of all the universities, I chose the one that was closest to home.

Word Connections

Synonyms

escogí (I chose/selected)
opté (I opted)

Antonyms

rechacé (I rejected)

Common Collocations

elegí mi carrera – I chose my career
elegí el camino – I chose the path

💡 Grammar Points

Use of the Preterite

You use 'elegí' to talk about a choice or decision that you completed at a definite moment in the past. It’s a finished action, like closing a door.

Stem Change E > I

The infinitive is 'elegir,' but in some forms (like 'eligió' or 'elijan'), the 'e' changes to an 'i'. However, in 'elegí' (the 'yo' preterite), the stem stays 'eleg-'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Past Tenses

Mistake: "Using 'yo elegía' (imperfect) instead of 'yo elegí' (preterite)."

Correction: Use 'elegí' when the choice was a single, specific event ('I chose the book'). Use 'elegía' only if you were describing a choice you used to make repeatedly ('I always used to choose the blue one').

⭐ Usage Tips

Focus on the Result

When you use 'elegí,' you are emphasizing the result of the decision, not the process of deciding.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: elegí

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'elegí' to talk about a finished past action?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

elegir(to choose) - verb

elección(choice/election) - noun

elegible(eligible) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'elegí' pronounced differently than the infinitive 'elegir'?

Yes. In 'elegir,' the stress is on the last syllable ('e-le-GIR'). In 'elegí,' the stress is also on the last syllable, but the accent mark (tilda) means it is stressed and rhymes with 'ee' in English: 'e-le-HÉE'. This accent is essential to distinguish it as the past tense 'I chose'.

How do I know when to use 'elegí' versus 'he elegido'?

'Elegí' (preterite) is used when the choice happened at a definite time that is over (e.g., 'I chose yesterday'). 'He elegido' (present perfect) is used if the choice happened recently or the consequences of the choice are still affecting the present moment (e.g., 'I have chosen a career path').