decidiste
deh-see-DEES-teh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¿Por qué decidiste cambiar de trabajo?
A2Why did you decide to change jobs?
Decidiste no venir a la fiesta anoche, ¿verdad?
A2You decided not to come to the party last night, right?
Cuando me llamaste, ya decidiste qué comprar.
B1When you called me, you had already decided what to buy.
💡 Grammar Points
Tense Function
This form, 'decidiste,' is the simple past tense (called the preterite). It describes an action—the act of deciding—that was finished and completed at a specific point in the past.
The 'Tú' Form
This ending (-iste) is unique to the 'tú' form, which is the informal way of saying 'you' when talking to one person (like a friend or family member).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Preterite vs. Imperfect
Mistake: "Usando 'Decidías ir' (You were deciding to go)."
Correction: Use 'Decidiste ir' (You decided to go). The preterite is used for a single, final choice, not for an ongoing process (which is what the imperfect implies).
⭐ Usage Tips
Pronoun Optional
Because the ending '-iste' clearly tells us who did the action ('tú'), you usually don't need to say the word 'tú.' Just saying '¿Decidiste?' is enough.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
imperfect
present
preterite
subjunctive
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: decidiste
Question 1 of 2
Which of these sentences correctly uses 'decidiste'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'decidiste' regular or irregular?
It is a regular verb. This means that to form the simple past (preterite), you just drop the '-ir' ending and add the standard '-iste' for the 'tú' form.
What is the difference between 'decidiste' and 'decidías'?
'Decidiste' (preterite) means the decision was made and finished ('You decided'). 'Decidías' (imperfect) means the process of deciding was ongoing or habitual ('You were deciding' or 'You used to decide').