Scegliere Conjugation in Italian
scegliere means “to choose” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Italian learners meet — it sits at number 174 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Italian verbs. It means to choose and to pick, and it belongs to the -gliere family: the passato remoto and the past participle are irregular, with the participle scelto, while the present is regular apart from the stem-final i dropping before i-initial endings. This page gives you the complete conjugation of scegliere — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Io sceglo un libro ogni giorno.” — “I choose a book.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: scegliere
- English: to choose
- Verb type: Irregular -ere verb
- Irregular in: passato-remoto, present-subjunctive, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative, past-participle, present-perfect, pluperfect
- Gerund: scegliendo
- Present participle: scegliente
- Past participle: scelto
- Auxiliary: avere (all perfect tenses are formed with avere + the past participle)
- Ending: -ere verbs; pattern gliere in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for scegliere, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read scegliere in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about scegliere
- It is irregular in 7 tense(s): passato-remoto, present-subjunctive, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative, past-participle, present-perfect, pluperfect. Learn those forms as a set instead of guessing them from the infinitive, because the stem changes in ways no rule predicts. It belongs to the -gliere family: the passato remoto and the past participle are irregular, with the participle scelto.
- The perfect tenses use avere: the passato prossimo is formed with avere in the present plus the past participle scelto. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The participles are scegliente and scelto: keep both in mind as you read the tables, because the present participle appears as an adjective and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. If you know those two forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
A note on scegliere
A note on the pattern: scegliere belongs to the -gliere family, so its passato remoto and past participle are irregular — the participle is scelto — while the present follows the regular -ere pattern apart from the stem-final i dropping before i-initial endings.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for scegliere. Learn the present tense first, then the passato prossimo and the imperfect, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | sceglo |
| tu | scegli |
| lui/lei | sceglie |
| noi | scegliamo |
| voi | scegliete |
| loro | sceglono |
The present indicative is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Io sceglo un libro ogni giorno.” — “I choose a book”
Passato remoto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | scelsi |
| tu | scegliesti |
| lui/lei | scelse |
| noi | scegliemmo |
| voi | sceglieste |
| loro | scelsero |
The passato remoto is used for completed actions in the distant past, mostly in written and literary Italian and in the south of Italy. For example: “Io scelsi un libro ieri.” — “I chose a book”
Imperfect (imperfetto)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | sceglievo |
| tu | sceglievi |
| lui/lei | sceglieva |
| noi | sceglievamo |
| voi | sceglievate |
| loro | sceglievano |
The imperfect is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Io sceglievo un libro una volta.” — “I used to choose a book”
Future (futuro semplice)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | sceglierò |
| tu | sceglierai |
| lui/lei | sceglierà |
| noi | sceglieremo |
| voi | sceglierete |
| loro | sceglieranno |
The future is used for what will happen, for predictions and for probability. For example: “Io sceglierò un libro domani.” — “I will choose a book”
Conditional (condizionale)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | sceglierei |
| tu | sceglieresti |
| lui/lei | sceglierebbe |
| noi | sceglieremmo |
| voi | scegliereste |
| loro | sceglierebbero |
The conditional is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Io sceglierei un libro un giorno.” — “I would choose a book”
Present perfect (passato prossimo)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | ho scelto |
| tu | hai scelto |
| lui/lei | ha scelto |
| noi | abbiamo scelto |
| voi | avete scelto |
| loro | hanno scelto |
The passato prossimo is used for completed actions in the past, especially in spoken Italian. For example: “Lui ha scelto un libro questa settimana.” — “He has chosen a book”
Pluperfect (trapassato prossimo)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | avevo scelto |
| tu | avevi scelto |
| lui/lei | aveva scelto |
| noi | avevamo scelto |
| voi | avevate scelto |
| loro | avevano scelto |
The pluperfect is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Io avevo scelto un libro prima della festa.” — “I had chosen a book”
Future perfect (futuro anteriore)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | avrò scelto |
| tu | avrai scelto |
| lui/lei | avrà scelto |
| noi | avremo scelto |
| voi | avrete scelto |
| loro | avranno scelto |
The future perfect is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Io avrò scelto un libro per domani.” — “I will have chosen a book”
Conditional perfect (condizionale passato)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | avrei scelto |
| tu | avresti scelto |
| lui/lei | avrebbe scelto |
| noi | avremmo scelto |
| voi | avreste scelto |
| loro | avrebbero scelto |
The conditional perfect is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Io avrei scelto un libro ieri.” — “I would have chosen a book”
Present subjunctive (congiuntivo presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | scelga |
| tu | scelga |
| lui/lei | scelga |
| noi | scegliamo |
| voi | scegliate |
| loro | scelgano |
The present subjunctive is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after che. For example: “È importante che io scelga un libro.” — “It is important that I choose a book”
Imperfect subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| io | scegliessi |
| tu | scegliessi |
| lui/lei | scegliesse |
| noi | scegliessimo |
| voi | sceglieste |
| loro | scegliessero |
The imperfect subjunctive is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after che, and in if-clauses. For example: “Era importante che io scegliessi un libro.” — “It was important that I choose a book”
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | scegli |
| lui/lei | scelga |
| noi | scegliamo |
| voi | scegliete |
| loro | scelgano |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Scegli un libro!” — “Choose a book!”
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | scegliere |
| lui/lei | scelga |
| noi | scegliamo |
| voi | scegliate |
| loro | scelgano |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Non scegliere un libro.” — “Do not choose a book.”
Gerund
| Form | Italian |
|---|---|
| Gerund | scegliendo |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with stare for the progressive. For example: “Scegliendo un libro, imparo molto.” — “While choosing a book, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Italian |
|---|---|
| Present participle | scegliente |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle scegliente is used to describe something that is happening at the same time as the main action, much like an English -ing adjective.
Past participle
| Form | Italian |
|---|---|
| Past participle | scelto |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Io ho scelto un libro questa settimana.” — “I have chosen a book.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with scegliere, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Italian and try to produce it from the English.
- “Io sceglo un libro ogni giorno.” — “I choose a book”
- “Tu scegliesti un libro ieri.” — “You chose a book”
- “Lui sceglieva un libro una volta.” — “He used to choose a book”
- “Io sceglierò un libro domani.” — “I will choose a book”
- “Tu sceglieresti un libro un giorno.” — “You would choose a book”
- “Lui ha scelto un libro questa settimana.” — “He has chosen a book”
- “Io avevo scelto un libro prima della festa.” — “I had chosen a book”
- “Tu avrai scelto un libro per domani.” — “You will have chosen a book”
- “È importante che io scelga un libro.” — “It is important that I choose a book”
- “Scegli un libro!” — “Choose a book!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Io scegliere un libro.”
✓ Right: “Io sceglo un libro ogni giorno.”
The infinitive scegliere never takes a subject. After io you need the conjugated present form sceglo.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Io scegli un libro.”
✓ Right: “Io sceglo un libro ogni giorno.”
scegli is the tu form, not the io form. Match the verb to the subject every time: io goes with sceglo.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Io sceglo un libro ieri.”
✓ Right: “Io ho scelto un libro questa settimana.”
Yesterday points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the passato prossimo ho scelto for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the passato prossimo
✗ Wrong: “Io sono scelto un libro.”
✓ Right: “Io ho scelto un libro questa settimana.”
The passato prossimo of scegliere is formed with avere plus the past participle scelto: the io form is ho scelto. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “È importante che io sceglo un libro.”
✓ Right: “È importante che io scelga un libro.”
After è importante che Italian needs the subjunctive, so use scelga here, not the indicative sceglo.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Io ho scegliendo un libro.”
✓ Right: “Io ho scelto un libro questa settimana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle scelto, not the gerund scegliendo. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on scegliere. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the io form of scegliere in the Present indicative?
- A) scegli
- B) sceglo
- C) sceglie
- D) scegliamo
What is the lui/lei form of scegliere in the Passato remoto?
- A) scelsi
- B) scegliesti
- C) scelse
- D) scegliemmo
What is the noi form of scegliere in the Imperfect?
- A) sceglievo
- B) sceglievi
- C) sceglieva
- D) sceglievamo
What is the tu form of scegliere in the Future?
- A) sceglierai
- B) sceglierò
- C) sceglierà
- D) sceglieremo
What is the io form of scegliere in the Conditional?
- A) sceglieresti
- B) sceglierei
- C) sceglierebbe
- D) sceglieremmo
What is the lui/lei form of scegliere in the Present perfect (passato prossimo)?
- A) ho scelto
- B) hai scelto
- C) ha scelto
- D) abbiamo scelto
What is the lui/lei form of scegliere in the Present subjunctive?
- A) scegliamo
- B) scegliate
- C) scelgano
- D) scelga
What is the io form of scegliere in the Imperfect subjunctive?
- A) scegliessi
- B) scegliesse
- C) scegliessimo
- D) sceglieste
What is the gerund of scegliere?
- A) scelto
- B) scegliendo
- C) scegliere
- D) sceglo
What does scegliere mean in English?
- A) to sit down
- B) to get dressed
- C) to choose
- D) to call
Answer key
- B) sceglo — the correct form is sceglo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) scelse — the correct form is scelse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) sceglievamo — the correct form is sceglievamo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) sceglierai — the correct form is sceglierai. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) sceglierei — the correct form is sceglierei. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) ha scelto — the correct form is ha scelto. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) scelga — the correct form is scelga. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) scegliessi — the correct form is scegliessi. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) scegliendo — the correct form is scegliendo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to choose — the correct form is to choose. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does scegliere mean in English?
scegliere means “to choose”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is scegliere regular or irregular?
scegliere is irregular: it is irregular in passato-remoto, present-subjunctive, imperative-affirmative, imperative-negative, past-participle, present-perfect, pluperfect. The gerund is scegliendo and the past participle is scelto.
What are the gerund and past participle of scegliere?
The gerund is scegliendo — use it with stare for the progressive. The past participle is scelto — use it with avere for the perfect tenses, as in ho scelto.
Which auxiliary does scegliere take in the passato prossimo?
scegliere takes avere in the passato prossimo: the io form is ho scelto. All four perfect tenses on this page are built with avere plus the past participle scelto.
How do I say “I choose” in Italian?
Say “Io sceglo un libro ogni giorno.” — “I choose a book” The io form of the present is sceglo, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of scegliere — every tense of scegliere in one place.
- Scegliere in the passato prossimo tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Scegliere examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Italian passato prossimo tense guide — the full guide to the passato prossimo tense in Italian.
- Italian irregular verbs — every common irregular Italian verb, grouped by pattern.
- Sedersi conjugation — another everyday Italian verb.
- Tenere conjugation — another everyday Italian verb.
- Italian verbs — the full hub of Italian conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise scegliere with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise scegliere with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise scegliere with the interactive tool.