When it comes to verbs, the different forms can be quite confusing. Fortunately, the confusion caused by these two words choose vs. chose can be cleared up with ease.
Contents
Chose vs. Choose: The Primary Difference
Chose vs. Choose: Key Takeaways
- Both words are different forms of the same verb: to choose, which means “decide on a course of action” or “pick up something as being the best or most appropriate of two or more alternatives”.
- The only difference between chose vs. choose is their tense: chose is the past tense of the verb, while choose is the present tense of the verb.
Chose vs. Choose: the Definition and Usage
Defining “Choose”
The verb “choose” means to select from a range of possibilities or to decide on a course of action after considering the options. It implies making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities.
You use choose when talking about doing something now or in general.
Examples:
- It’s hard for me to choose between these two.
- Salty or spicy chips? I can never choose.
Defining “Chose”
“Chose” is the simple past tense of the verb “choose,” which means to select from a range of possibilities or to decide on a course of action. It indicates that the act of selection or decision was made at a specific time in the past.
You use chose when talking about something you did in the past.
Examples:
- I had bad grades so I chose to drop out of school.
- We chose some curtains with a flower motif.
Tips for the Differences between Choose vs. Chose
- Present vs. Past: “Choose” is the present tense form, and “chose” is the past tense form of the same verb. Use “choose” for the present or future, and “chose” for the past.
- Pronunciation Cue: “Choose” has a longer “oo” sound, similar to “shoes,” which you might pick out now or in the future. “Chose” has a shorter “o” sound, like “froze,” something that happened in the past.
- Look at how the word choose looks like: It has two o’s in the middle which look like someone’s eyes. Pretend that you have to choose something really important right now, so you need both eyes (o’s in this case) for that.
Chose vs. Choose Examples
Examples of “Chose”
- She chose the red dress for the gala, as it was the most striking.
- After much deliberation, they finally chose a name for their newborn.
- He chose to stay behind and finish the work while everyone else left.
- Out of all the puppies, my brother chose the one with the floppy ears.
- The committee chose the proposal that promised the most benefits.
- For her final project, she chose a challenging topic that intrigued her.
- They chose not to go on vacation this year to save money for the house.
Examples of “Choose”
- Every morning, you have to choose what to wear for the day.
- When faced with two job offers, it can be hard to choose the best one.
- You can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family.
- For her birthday, let her choose where she wants to go for dinner.
- Students must choose their courses before the semester begins.
- In the election, voters will choose between several important initiatives.
- I can never choose which ice cream flavor I want; they all look so good!
Related Confused Words
Choose vs. Chosen
“Choose” and “chosen” are different forms of the same verb, which is “to choose,” meaning to select from a range of options or to make a decision. The difference between the two lies in their grammatical usage as different tenses.
“Choose” is the present tense form of the verb. It is used when the action of selecting or deciding is currently happening or is a general statement of fact. For example:
- “I choose to eat healthy foods.”
- “You must choose your next step carefully.”
“Chosen” is the past participle form of the verb “to choose.” It is used in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions, often to indicate that the action of selecting has been completed. For example:
- “She has chosen the best candidate for the job.”
- “The winners were chosen by a panel of judges.”
Choose vs. Select
“Choose” and “select” are both verbs that indicate the act of picking or deciding on an option from a range of possibilities. While they are often used interchangeably, there are subtle connotations and contexts that might make one more appropriate than the other.
“Choose” implies a decision that may involve consideration and preference. It often suggests a higher degree of personal involvement or judgment. For example:
- “She must choose her career path wisely.”
- “I chose the red dress because it’s my favorite color.”
“Select,” on the other hand, can imply a more objective or systematic process of picking options, sometimes based on specific criteria or standards. It can feel slightly more formal or technical than “choose.” For example:
- “The committee will select the winners based on their performance.”
- “Please select an option from the menu.”
Chose Vs. Choose: Practice and Exercise
Fill in the Blank – “Chose” vs. “Choose”
Complete the sentences below with the correct word: “chose” or “choose.”
- Yesterday, she _______ the perfect dress for the party.
- Every morning, you must _______ what to wear to school.
- He _______ to study law at the university.
- We can _______ to make a change in our lives at any moment.
- They _______ not to go on the trip because of the weather forecast.
- You need to _______ between these two job offers by tomorrow.
Answers with Explanations:
- chose
- “Chose” is the simple past tense of “choose,” indicating a decision made at a specific time in the past, which in this case was yesterday.
- choose
- “Choose” is the present tense form of the verb, referring to a decision that needs to be made every morning.
- chose
- “Chose” is used here because it is the simple past tense, indicating a decision made in the past about what to study.
- choose
- “Choose” is the present tense form, indicating the ongoing ability to make decisions at any moment.
- chose
- “Chose” is the simple past tense, indicating a past decision made about not going on the trip.
- choose
- “Choose” is the present tense form, indicating a decision that needs to be made by tomorrow.
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