Regular verb
The verb to decide
decide → decided → decided
A2Meaning: to choose what to do after thinking · Type: regular · Frequency: Top 50 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
decide / decides - Past Simple:
decided - Past participle:
decided - -ing form:
deciding(without the final e)
Conjugation of the verb to decide
Present Simple
| I | decide |
| You | decide |
| He / She / It | decides |
| We | decide |
| You (pl.) | decide |
| They | decide |
Past Simple
| I | decided |
| You | decided |
| He / She / It | decided |
| We | decided |
| You (pl.) | decided |
| They | decided |
All the forms of the verb to decide
Present Simple
Full pagedecide / decides
“I decide today.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are deciding
“I am deciding what to wear right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagedecided
“She decided to leave.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were deciding
“I was deciding what to wear when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has decided
“I have already decided what to wear.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad decided
“She had already decided what to wear when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill decide
“I will decide what to wear tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to decide
“I'm going to decide what to wear this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould decide
“I would decide what to wear if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to decide
1. Deciding
- She decided to leave.
2. Make a decision
Make a decision means to decide.
- Let's make a decision.
A common mistake
1. A decider = the deciding match
A decider (mostly British, used in sport) is the match or the goal that decides who wins. The decider is on Sunday. It is not a person who decides.
Going further
Conjugating to decide is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
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Practise on PLAYYou can conjugate to decide. Now say it out loud.
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Related pages: decide
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of decide?+
Decided: decide is regular. It already ends in e, so you only add -d. She decided to leave.
Is it make a decision or take a decision?+
Make a decision is correct everywhere. Take a decision also exists in British English, but make is more common. Many learners say take: choose make, it is always right.
Is it decide to do or decide doing?+
Decide + to + infinitive: I decided to go. Never decide + -ing: I decided going is wrong.
What is the difference between decisive and determined?+
Decisive = (1) very important for the result: a decisive moment; (2) able to make decisions quickly: a decisive leader. Determined = you really want to reach a goal. She's decisive (she makes decisions easily). She's determined (she really wants to succeed).
What can you say when you can't decide?+
I can't decide means it is hard for me to choose. It is a very common feeling. You can also say I'm undecided. And if you need more time: Let me sleep on it (I will think about it until tomorrow).
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/decide
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.