French Verb 'décider': Complete Guide to Meaning, Conjugation & Usage

When learning French, it's essential to master verbs like "décider", which means "to decide" or "to determine". This verb is crucial in everyday conversations, as you'll often need to make decisions or express your thoughts and intentions. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the meaning, conjugation, usage, and common expressions related to this important French verb.

What Does 'décider' Mean in French?

"Décider" has multiple nuances depending on the context. Here are three key meanings: * To decide or make a choice: Je décide de prendre le métro pour aller au centre-ville. (I decide to take the subway to go downtown.) * To determine or settle something: La justice va décider de la culpabilité du prévenu. (The court will determine the defendant's guilt.) * To resolve or solve a problem: Je vais décider de la question en discutant avec mon partenaire. (I'll decide on the issue by discussing it with my partner.)

Conjugation of 'décider'

Here is the conjugation table for "décider" in three tenses:

Pronoun	Present	Passé composé	Futur simple
J'-	décide	ai décidé	aurai décidé
Tu-	décides	as décidé	aures décidé
	décide	a décidé	aura décidé
Nous-	décidons	avons décidé	aurons décidé
Ils/elles-	décident	ont décidé	auront décidé

How to Use 'décider' in a Sentence

Here are six example sentences showcasing the different tenses and contexts: * Présent: J'ai décidé de prendre un café avant de partir. (I decided to have a coffee before leaving.) * Passé composé: J'ai déjà décidé de ne pas aller au concert. (I already decided not to go to the concert.) * Futur simple: J'aurai décidé où aller pour mon anniversaire dans une heure. (I'll decide where to go for my birthday in an hour.)

Common Expressions and Phrases with 'décider'

Here are four idiomatic French expressions using "décider": * Fais-moi décider ! (Make me decide!) - used when someone is being indecisive. * J'ai déjà décidé pour moi. (I've already decided for myself.) - used to assert one's independence. * C'est à toi de décider. (It's up to you to decide.) - used to delegate a decision-making responsibility. * Je suis prêt à décider, mais j'ai besoin de temps pour y réfléchir. (I'm ready to decide, but I need time to think about it.) - used when someone is hesitant or needs more information.

Tips for Remembering 'décider'

Here are three memory tricks to help you remember the verb "décider": * Associate the verb with a decision-making scenario: imagine yourself deciding what to do on a Saturday morning. * Practice conjugating the verb in different tenses using flashcards or online exercises. * Use the phrase J'ai décidé de... as a starting point for sentences and fill in the blank with your own ideas. Practice the verb décider on My-French.com