elige
eh-LEE-heh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mi hermano siempre elige la película más larga.
A2My brother always chooses the longest movie.
Usted elige qué camino seguir, señor.
B1You choose which path to follow, sir.
Si no te gusta, ¡elige otra cosa!
A2If you don't like it, choose something else!
¿Qué postre elige el chef hoy?
B1Which dessert is the chef choosing today?
💡 Grammar Points
The Dual Role of 'elige'
'Elige' is used for two things: 1) Statements about what he/she/you (formal) does now, like 'Ella elige el azul.' 2) Giving a direct command to a friend (tú), like '¡Elige rápido!'
Stem Change E > I
The base verb 'elegir' is tricky because the 'e' changes to an 'i' in most forms, including 'elige' and 'elijo.' This is a common pattern for many -ir verbs.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'g' to 'j' change
Mistake: "Yo elego"
Correction: Yo elijo. The 'g' changes to a 'j' before the 'o' to keep the sound consistent (like the English 'h').
Using the wrong imperative
Mistake: "Tú eliges (to command someone)"
Correction: Tú elige. When giving an informal command (tú affirmative), you use the same form as 'él/ella/usted' present tense.
⭐ Usage Tips
Election Vocabulary
This verb is often used in political contexts (e.g., 'El pueblo elige a su presidente' — The people elect their president).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: elige
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'elige' as a command?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'elegir' and 'escoger'?
They mean essentially the same thing ('to choose' or 'to select'). 'Elegir' is slightly more formal and often used for important choices (like elections), while 'escoger' is very common for everyday, simple choices (like choosing an apple).
Why does 'elige' have two different meanings ('he chooses' and 'Choose!')?
In Spanish, the informal command form ('tú' imperative) for many verbs is identical to the 'él/ella/usted' form of the present tense. Context usually makes it clear whether you are stating a fact or giving an order.