decidí
deh-see-DEE
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ayer decidí cambiar de trabajo.
A1Yesterday, I decided to change jobs.
Después de pensarlo mucho, decidí quedarme en casa.
A2After thinking about it a lot, I decided to stay home.
Decidí que era hora de empezar a estudiar español.
B1I decided that it was time to start studying Spanish.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Yo' Form
The accent mark on the final 'í' is essential! It tells you that the action was performed by 'I' (yo) and that it happened at a specific, completed moment in the past.
Preterite Tense
This verb form is used for actions that started and finished in the past, like checking an item off a list. For example, 'I decided yesterday' (decidí).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Missing the Accent
Mistake: "Yo decidi ir a la playa."
Correction: Yo decidí ir a la playa.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Result
Use 'decidí' when the focus is on the final outcome of the choice. If you want to talk about the process of deciding (the thinking part), you might use the imperfect tense ('decidía').
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: decidí
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best translates 'Decidí no comprar el coche'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'decidí' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is crucial because it marks the stress on the last syllable, indicating that it is the 'yo' (I) form of a regular verb in the simple past tense (Preterite). Without it, the word would be stressed differently and would not mean 'I decided'.
How is 'decidí' different from 'decidía'?
'Decidí' (Preterite) means the decision was made and finished ('I decided'). 'Decidía' (Imperfect) means the decision was ongoing, habitual, or used as background information ('I used to decide' or 'I was deciding').