Some English verbs have more complex past tense forms, and one example is the word choose. Is it choose or chooses? chose or choosed? Choosing or choosing?
I’ll show you the difference between choose vs. chose and its other verb forms. I’ll also give you helpful examples of how to use it in a sentence.
Is it Chose or Choose?
Use chose if you have already decided on something, and use choose if the act of choosing is done at present. The difference between choose and chose is their tense forms. Choose is in the present tense, while chose is in the simple past tense. The action word means to pick out, select, or make a choice.
Why is it Chose and Not Choosed?
The rules on the form of verbs can be confusing, especially when it comes to the past tense form. The past tense use of choose is chose because it’s an irregular verb. Unlike the verb bake, you don’t just add -d or -ed to the word.
Irregular verbs do not follow the typical rule for simple past and past participle forms. Rather than choosed, you remove one o to make the past form chose. And you add -en for the past participle to form chosen.
Here are some examples of chose in a sentence:
- The Ecuadorian people chose to be friendly to their tourists and visitors.
- Out of all the items on the menu, you chose the one we have at home.
- I chose not to disclose everything that happened in the meeting yesterday.
Another example of irregular verbs is sing. The past and past participle forms are sang and sung. The simple past and past participle forms of bring is brought.
When to Use Choose
Chosing or choosing
You can also add the auxiliary verb will or shall l before the word choose for the simple future tense. Here are some examples:
- She gave me a choice between coconuts and melons, and I will choose melons tomorrow.
The word chooses is the simple present tense of choose, which you use after singular third-person subjects.
For example, instead of saying “Maya choose the bacon hamburger”, say, “Maya chooses the bacon hamburger. It’s inaccurate to use choose with the third person reference to the noun Maya. Here are other examples:
- Miguel chooses to study in his room every day.
- My dog always chooses peanut butter treats over chicken.
When to Use Chose
Use chose as the past tense of choose. When you chose something, it means you have already picked it among a selection of choices. Or you have already selected a course of action. The following sentences imply that a choice has already been made:
- Last night, I chose the dress to wear to prom.
- My dad chose to skip breakfast this morning because he was in a rush.
- She chose her career over him.
When to Use Chosen
Use chosen as the past participle form of choose. An auxiliary verb has, have, or had usually comes before it to form a compound verb or verb phrase in the present or past perfect tense.
Has chosen and have chosen are the present perfect form of choose. Use to show that you already chose something at an indefinite time. You can also use it if you decided on something in the past and continued it to the present–for example:
- I think I have chosen this color before.
- I have always chosen you.
Use had chosen to refer to a time earlier than now. It means you had chosen something before another event occurred in the past. Here’s an example:
- Event A: I had chosen cookie dough flavor
- Event B: when the lady recommended mint chocolate.
Event A occurred first before Event B. That means Event A should use the past perfect tense (had chosen), while Event B is in the simple past tense (recommended). The final sentence is:
- I had chosen cookie dough flavor when the lady suggested mint chocolate.
Here are other examples of had chosen in a sentence:
- I had chosen to enroll in Lehigh University when I received the University of Pennsylvania’s acceptance letter.
- Richard had chosen to leave for California before Sutton asked her to stay.
When to Use Choosing
Is it choosing or choosing? The correct term is choosing. Use itto express an action that is not yet done. That means you haven’t decided yet if you are still choosing. The three progressive verb tenses include:
- Past progressive (was/were + choosing).
- Present progressive (is/are + choosing).
- Future progressive (will be + choosing).
Here are some examples of choosing in a sentence:
- I was choosing my outfit when Jane canceled our plan.
- I am still choosing who to hang out with this Sunday.
- I will be choosing my project partner once our collaboration is over.
How Do You Use Choose and Chose in a Sentence?
Choose in a Sentence
You don’t have to select a seat in order to get a seat. You just might get stuck with a suboptimal one if you choose to skip it. (Market Watch)
Must China choose sides in the Russia-Ukraine War? (The Straits Times)
Warren Buffet tests college kids to seek a job they would choose if they had no need for money. (Business Insider)
Chose in a Sentence
Kamala Harris felt “wounded” and “belittled” by the photo Vogue chose for her February 2021 cover. (Yahoo)
When we sat down last fall to conceive a version of this project that could become an ongoing tradition, we chose to spotlight leaders who are working to create a better future for women everywhere. (Time)
“She chose giving people the benefit of the doubt, she looked for the good in them,” one vigil attendee said. “She chose compassion, and she chose time and time again to lift others up.” (NBC Chicago)
Choose and Chose Summary
In summary, choose and chooses are the present tense of choose, while chose is the past tense. You also know the correct term between choosing or choosing and chose and choosed.
Mastering the correct form of English verbs will take you a step further to becoming more fluent. It will help you be more confident in using the verb in a sentence! Learn more about easily confused words like this such as separate vs separate and electric vs eclectic.