Choose and chose are the present and past tense forms of the same verb, but they are frequently confused in writing. The confusion is understandable: the spelling difference is subtle and the pronunciation follows a pattern that isn’t obvious from the spelling.

The difference

Choose (rhymes with lose, pronounced /tʃuːz/) is the present tense: it describes choices being made now or habitually.

Chose (rhymes with nose, pronounced /tʃoʊz/) is the simple past tense: it describes a choice made at a specific point in the past.

Every morning I choose the fastest route. (present, habitual)

Yesterday I chose the longer route to avoid construction. (past, completed)

The third form — the past participle — is chosen: She has chosen a different approach.

The complete paradigm

Choose follows the same irregular pattern as freeze/froze/frozen, lose/lost (though lose is entirely irregular), and prove/proved/proven. The vowel shift from the long oo of the present to the long oh of the past is characteristic of a class of Old English strong verbs.

Common errors

Using chose as a present tense: I always chose the same option when describing a current habit should be I always choose the same option.

Using choose as a past tense: She choose the second candidate last week should be She chose the second candidate last week.

Confusion with chosen: She has chose the candidate should be She has chosen the candidate — the past participle, not the simple past, follows has/have.

A quick check

Ask: is the action happening now or generally? → choose. Did the action happen at a specific past moment? → chose. Is it preceded by has, have, or had? → chosen.

Trinka’s grammar checker identifies incorrect verb forms including common irregular verb errors like choose/chose/chosen.

References

Merriam-Webster. (2023). Choose. https://www.merriam–webster.com/dictionary/choose