“Choose” vs. “Chose”: What’s the Difference?

The words choose and chose are forms of the same verb — but they refer to different times.

Understanding which to use is simple once you remember the tense.

Choose: Present or Future Tense

Meaning

“Choose” is the present tense form of the verb.
It means to pick, select, or decide between options right now or in the future.

Examples (10 total)

1. I always choose the chocolate flavor.
2. You can choose your own seat.
3. They choose kindness over anger.
4. Please choose one of the following answers.
5. We must choose wisely.
6. I can’t choose between these two dresses.
7. You will choose your major next year.
8. Let’s choose a movie to watch tonight.
9. She helps students choose the right career.
10. We’ll choose the winner tomorrow.

🧠 Tip:
If it’s happening now or soon, use choose.

Chose: Past Tense

Meaning

“Chose” is the past tense of choose.
It means the act of selecting something already happened.

Examples (10 total)

1. I chose pizza instead of pasta.
2. They chose the blue paint for the walls.
3. She chose not to attend the meeting.
4. We chose that hotel because of its view.
5. He chose the wrong time to call.
6. The teacher chose three students for the project.
7. I chose to stay home last night.
8. You chose the perfect gift!
9. The voters chose a new leader.
10. We chose the shorter route.

🧠 Tip:
If it already happened, use chose.

Quick Comparison Table

Common Mistake

❌ I chose to go tomorrow.
✅ I choose to go tomorrow. (future)

❌ I choose to go yesterday.
✅ I chose to go yesterday. (past)

💡 Memory Trick:

“Chose” rhymes with “rose” — something that already bloomed 🌹 (past tense).
“Choose” rhymes with “shoes” — something you put on now 👟 (present tense).

Why Writers and AI Mix Them Up

Because choose and chose look and sound similar, many people (and AI tools) confuse their tenses.
That’s why Humanizey helps detect and fix subtle tense mistakes automatically, making your writing sound natural and human.

FAQs

1. Is “choose” singular or plural?

“Choose” works for all subjects in the present tense except he, she, and it. For those, use chooses.
Example: He chooses kindness.

2. What’s the past participle of “choose”?

The past participle is chosen — used with “have” or “had.”
Example: I have chosen my path.

3. Can I say “have chose”?

No. The correct form is have chosen.
Example: They have chosen wisely.

4. Is “choose” irregular?

Yes — its past forms don’t follow the usual “-ed” pattern (choose → chose → chosen).

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Choose” or “Chose”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. I always ___ water over soda.
2. Yesterday, we ___ the cheaper hotel.
3. You can ___ your favorite seat.
4. They ___ to walk instead of drive.
5. She will ___ a new phone next week.
6. He ___ the wrong time to speak.
7. We need to ___ a color for the logo.
8. I already ___ the red one.
9. You should ___ carefully.
10. The voters ___ a new mayor last year.

Answers

1. choose
2. chose
3. choose
4. chose
5. choose
6. chose
7. choose
8. chose
9. choose