eligió
/eh-lee-HEE-oh/
chose
When someone eligió (chose) an option, they made a selection.
eligió(Verb)
chose
?to select an option
,selected
?to pick one from a group
opted for
?making a choice
📝 In Action
Ella eligió el vestido rojo para la fiesta.
A1She chose the red dress for the party.
Usted eligió el camino más difícil, pero valió la pena.
A2You (formal) chose the most difficult path, but it was worth it.
El comité eligió a Juan como nuevo líder.
B1The committee chose Juan as the new leader.
💡 Grammar Points
The Preterite Tense
This form tells you that the action of choosing happened and finished completely at a specific point in the past. It's a completed story.
The 'Elegir' Irregularity
The base verb 'elegir' has a special change here: the 'e' in the middle changes to an 'i' (e.g., elegí becomes eligió). This only happens in the third-person forms of the past tense.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Eligio (without accent)"
Correction: Eligió (with accent). The accent mark is essential because it tells you to stress the last syllable, confirming it is the simple past tense (preterite).
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Result
Use 'eligió' when the focus is on the final decision or selection that was made, not the process of deciding.
When someone is eligió (elected), they are chosen for an official role.
eligió(Verb)
elected
?for a public or official position
voted in
?selection by ballot
📝 In Action
La nación eligió un nuevo presidente el año pasado.
B1The nation elected a new president last year.
El director eligió a su sucesor de entre los candidatos.
B2The director elected his successor from among the candidates.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
When talking about politics or formal nominations, 'elegir' is the standard verb, not 'escoger'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: eligió
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'eligió' to describe a finished action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'eligió' the same as 'elegir'?
'Elegir' is the base verb, meaning 'to choose.' 'Eligió' is the conjugated form, specifically meaning 'he, she, or you (formal) chose' in the past. It tells you who performed the action and when.
Why does 'eligió' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'o' is crucial. It signals that this is the simple past tense (preterite) and tells you to put the stress on the last syllable. Without the accent, the word would sound like 'E-LI-jio', which is incorrect.