In Spanish, the verb “decidir” means “to decide” in English. To express the past tense of this verb, you can use either the preterite or the imperfect tense. In this guide, we will explore the formal and informal ways to say “decidir” in the past tense, providing tips, examples, and highlighting any regional variations if necessary.
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Formal Ways to Say “Decidir” in the Past Tense
When you need to use “decidir” in a formal context, such as in business or academic settings, you can use the following conjugations in the past tense:
Preterite Tense (Pretérito Indefinido or Pretérito Perfecto Simple)
The preterite tense is commonly used to indicate completed actions in the past. To conjugate “decidir” in the preterite tense for the formal “usted” (you) or “ustedes” (you all), use the following conjugations:
- Usted: decidió
- Ustedes: decidieron
Here are some examples of “decidir” in the preterite tense with the respective conjugations in formal contexts:
Usted: Ayer decidió firmar el contrato.
(Yesterday, you decided to sign the contract.)Ustedes: En la reunión decidieron aceptar la propuesta.
(In the meeting, you all decided to accept the proposal.)
Imperfect Tense (Pretérito Imperfecto)
The imperfect tense is commonly used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past. To conjugate “decidir” in the imperfect tense for the formal “usted” (you) or “ustedes” (you all), use the following conjugations:
- Usted: decidía
- Ustedes: decidían
Consider the following examples showcasing “decidir” in the imperfect tense in a formal context:
Usted: Antes, siempre decidía con cautela.
(Before, you always decided cautiously.)Ustedes: En aquellos días, decidían el rumbo de la empresa.
(In those days, you all decided the direction of the company.)
Informal Ways to Say “Decidir” in the Past Tense
When talking in a casual or informal context, such as with friends or family, you can use the following conjugations of “decidir” in the past tense:
Preterite Tense (Pretérito Indefinido or Pretérito Perfecto Simple)
To conjugate “decidir” in the preterite tense for the informal “tú” (you) or “vosotros” (you all), use the following conjugations:
- Tú: decidiste
- Vosotros: decidisteis
Let’s look at some informal examples of “decidir” in the preterite tense:
Tú: Ayer decidiste ir al cine en lugar de estudiar.
(Yesterday, you decided to go to the movies instead of studying.)Vosotros: Vosotros decidisteis cambiar de destino de viaje.
(You all decided to change the travel destination.)
Imperfect Tense (Pretérito Imperfecto)
To express “decidir” in the imperfect tense for the informal “tú” (you) or “vosotros” (you all), use the following conjugations:
- Tú: decidías
- Vosotros: decidíais
Consider these examples of “decidir” in the imperfect tense in an informal context:
Tú: Siempre decidías sin pensar mucho en las consecuencias.
(You always decided without thinking much about the consequences.)Vosotros: De niños, siempre decidíais juntos qué juegos jugar.
(As children, you always decided together which games to play.)
Remember to use the appropriate conjugation of “decidir” based on the subject of your sentence, whether formal or informal. Now that you have a good understanding of how to say “decidir” in the past tense, you can confidently navigate Spanish conversations and express yourself accurately in a variety of contexts.
