Alegar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb alegar means to allege, to claim, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Alegar means to allege or to claim, to say something as a reason or an excuse, especially in court. It is a formal verb, and it is a spelling-change verb: g becomes gu before e. Like every Spanish verb, alegar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say alego su inocencia ante el juez, and in the preterite you say alegué falta de pruebas en el juicio. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: alegar
- English: to allege, to claim
- Verb type: irregular verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: alegando
- Past participle: alegado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + alegado)
- Spelling change: Spelling change: the stem gains u before e and a, so the present subjunctive is alegue and the preterite first person is alegué.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for alegar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: g becomes gu before e, so the preterite first person is alegué. In the present tense it is regular: alego.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for alegar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alego |
| tú | alegas |
| él/ella/Ud. | alega |
| nosotros/as | alegamos |
| vosotros/as | alegáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alegan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alegué |
| tú | alegaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | alegó |
| nosotros/as | alegamos |
| vosotros/as | alegasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alegaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alegaba |
| tú | alegabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | alegaba |
| nosotros/as | alegábamos |
| vosotros/as | alegabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alegaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alegaré |
| tú | alegarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | alegará |
| nosotros/as | alegaremos |
| vosotros/as | alegaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alegarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alegaría |
| tú | alegarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | alegaría |
| nosotros/as | alegaríamos |
| vosotros/as | alegaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alegarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he alegado |
| tú | has alegado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha alegado |
| nosotros/as | hemos alegado |
| vosotros/as | habéis alegado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han alegado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había alegado |
| tú | habías alegado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había alegado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos alegado |
| vosotros/as | habíais alegado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían alegado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré alegado |
| tú | habrás alegado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá alegado |
| nosotros/as | habremos alegado |
| vosotros/as | habréis alegado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán alegado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría alegado |
| tú | habrías alegado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría alegado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos alegado |
| vosotros/as | habríais alegado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían alegado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alegue |
| tú | alegues |
| él/ella/Ud. | alegue |
| nosotros/as | aleguemos |
| vosotros/as | aleguéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aleguen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | alegara |
| tú | alegaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | alegara |
| nosotros/as | alegáramos |
| vosotros/as | alegarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | alegaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | alega |
| él/ella/Ud. | alegue |
| nosotros/as | aleguemos |
| vosotros/as | alegad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aleguen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | alegues |
| él/ella/Ud. | alegue |
| nosotros/as | aleguemos |
| vosotros/as | aleguéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aleguen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | alegando | with estar for the progressive: estoy alegando |
| Past participle | alegado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he alegado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alegar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Alego su inocencia ante el juez. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. Note the spelling change: the stem gains u before e and a, so the present subjunctive is alegue and the preterite first person is alegué. For alegar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, alegué ignorancia de la ley. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alegar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, alegaba falta de pruebas en el juicio. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alegar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, alegaré enfermedad para no ir a trabajar. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alegar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Alegaría su inocencia ante el juez si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alegar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he alegado ignorancia de la ley. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alegar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había alegado falta de pruebas en el juicio antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alegar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré alegado enfermedad para no ir a trabajar. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alegar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría alegado su inocencia ante el juez con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. Note the spelling change: the stem gains u before e and a, so the present subjunctive is alegue and the preterite first person is alegué. For alegar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él alegue ignorancia de la ley. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For alegar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él alegara falta de pruebas en el juicio, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. Note the spelling change: the stem gains u before e and a, so the present subjunctive is alegue and the preterite first person is alegué. For alegar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡Alega enfermedad para no ir a trabajar! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. Note the spelling change: the stem gains u before e and a, so the present subjunctive is alegue and the preterite first person is alegué. For alegar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No alegues su inocencia ante el juez. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with alegar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Alego su inocencia ante el juez. — I allege his innocence before the judge.
- Alega ignorancia de la ley. — He/she alleges ignorance of the law.
- Ayer, alegué falta de pruebas en el juicio. — Yesterday, I alleged lack of evidence at the trial.
- Antes, nosotros alegábamos enfermedad para no ir a trabajar. — Before, we used to allege illness to avoid going to work.
- Mañana, tú alegarás su inocencia ante el juez. — Tomorrow, you will allege his innocence before the judge.
- Yo alegaría ignorancia de la ley si tuviera más tiempo. — I would allege ignorance of the law if I had more time.
- Él ha alegado falta de pruebas en el juicio. — He has alleged lack of evidence at the trial.
- Espero que él alegue enfermedad para no ir a trabajar. — I hope he alleges illness to avoid going to work.
- Yo ya había alegado su inocencia ante el juez antes de salir. — I had already alleged his innocence before the judge before leaving.
- Ellos alegaban ignorancia de la ley cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to allege ignorance of the law when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo alega su inocencia ante el juez. — Right: Yo alego su inocencia ante el juez. — The person matters: alega is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is alego. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Espero que yo alege ignorancia de la ley. — Right: Espero que yo alegue ignorancia de la ley. — Spelling change: becomes u before e, so the present subjunctive is alegue, never alege.
- Wrong: Treating alegar and afirmar as identical in every context. — Right: Alegar means to allege, to claim, while afirmar means to state. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: alegar fits sentences such as Alego su inocencia ante el juez, while afirmar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy alegado ignorancia de la ley. — Right: Yo he alegado ignorancia de la ley. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he alegado, has alegado, ha alegado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo alegué falta de pruebas en el juicio todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo alegaba falta de pruebas en el juicio todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (alegaba), not the preterite. The preterite (alegué) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on alegar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ su inocencia ante el juez. (present tense) A. alego B. alegas C. alega D. alegamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ ignorancia de la ley. (preterite) A. alegué B. alegaste C. alegaron D. alegó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ falta de pruebas en el juicio. (imperfect) A. alegabas B. alegaban C. alegábamos D. alegaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ enfermedad para no ir a trabajar. (future) A. alegaremos B. alegarás C. alegaré D. alegará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ su inocencia ante el juez si pudiera. (conditional) A. alegaría B. alegarías C. alegarían D. alego
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ ignorancia de la ley. (present subjunctive) A. alegues B. aleguemos C. alego D. alegue
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ falta de pruebas en el juicio, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. alegáramos B. alego C. alegara D. alegaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ enfermedad para no ir a trabajar. (present perfect) A. han alegado B. hemos alegado C. he alegado D. has alegado
Complete the command: ¡___ su inocencia ante el juez! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. alega B. alegue C. aleguemos D. alegad
Which is the gerund of alegar, used with estar for the progressive? A. alegado B. alego C. alegué D. alegando
Answer key
- alego — The first-person present of alegar is alego. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- alegó — The third-person preterite of alegar is alegó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- alegábamos — The nosotros imperfect of alegar is alegábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- alegarás — The second-person future of alegar is alegarás.
- alegaría — The first-person conditional of alegar is alegaría, the form for what would happen.
- alegue — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of alegar is alegue.
- alegara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of alegar is alegara.
- hemos alegado — The nosotros present perfect of alegar is hemos alegado: hemos + alegado.
- alega — The affirmative tú imperative of alegar is alega.
- alegando — The gerund of alegar is alegando: estoy alegando. The participle alegado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does alegar mean in English?
Alegar means to allege, to claim. It is used in everyday situations such as Alego su inocencia ante el juez. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is alegar regular or irregular?
Alegar is a spelling-change verb, so it is not fully regular. Spelling change: the stem gains u before e and a, so the present subjunctive is alegue and the preterite first person is alegué. The other tenses follow the regular -ar endings. Learn the changed forms from the tables above rather than applying the regular spelling.
What is the difference between alegar and afirmar?
Alegar means to allege, to claim, while afirmar means to state. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use alegar when you mean to allege, to claim, as in Alego su inocencia ante el juez, and use afirmar for to state. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I allege” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo alegué ignorancia de la ley. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo alegaba falta de pruebas en el juicio. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he alegado ignorancia de la ley.
How do I practise alegar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the alegar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Alegar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for alegar.
- Alegar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for alegar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Complete list of Spanish irregular verbs — where this verb's pattern is listed.
- Alarmar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alegar.
- Alertar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alegar.
- Alabar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with alegar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.