decide

Use the word "decide" when you make a plan in your mind. You want to do something, or you don’t want to do something. This verb is often used in the past tense:

• A: What did you decide to do about the job?
• B: I decided to take it.

Notice that an infinitive (to do / to take) folllows "decide."

• Lana decided to get a new cell phone.
• We’ve decided to move to Texas.
• You decided to learn English.
• Jeremy has decided not to play with those other boys.

When a person doesn’t decide, the word "yet" appears:

• Helen hasn’t decided on a color yet.
• The company hasn’t decided yet on which building to purchase.
• The teacher didn’t decide yet on what kind of punishment to give to the misbehaving students.

Notice that the preposition "on" is often used with "decide."

• I can’t decide on which shirt to buy.
• Did you decide on a college yet?
• When will they decide on a location for their wedding?
• Is she ever going to decide on which car to buy?

When the word "decide" is in the form of a noun, it’s "decision."

• It’s hard for him to make decisions.
• This is an easy decision.
• What’s your decision? Are you going to stay or are you going to go?

They made the decision to get married.

They decided to get married.

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Published on March 17, 2012.