have decided vs were decided

The phrases 'have decided' and 'were decided' are not directly comparable as they serve different grammatical functions. 'Have decided' is used to indicate a recent decision made by the subject, while 'were decided' is used to describe a past event where a decision was made by someone or something.

Last updated: April 08, 2024 • 370 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a recent decision made by the subject.

"have decided"

Use 'have decided' when you want to express that the subject has made a decision recently. It is formed with the auxiliary verb 'have' and the past participle 'decided'.

Examples:

I have decided to go on a trip next week.
They have decided to postpone the meeting until next month.
She has decided to change her career path.
We have decided to invest in new technology for the company.
He has decided to start a new business.

Show examples from the web [+]

The Russians have decided to bid.
Stop accepting what others have decided for you.
We have decided to put an end to the quirks of fate.
Donna and I have decided we're not talking about our relationship anymore.
Brother Lei, I have decided.
I have decided to change my life.
And they have decided to release it as a benefit single.
But I have decided that you are worth saving.
I have decided that we shall stay here.
I have decided to ask for a little money in advance.
You see, the military have decided to give us an escort.
After careful consideration, I have decided... to make Don Pedro de Ursua commander of the expedition.
I have decided to put my name in for the Democratic nomination.
I have decided to create a supplementary persona... named Francois Dillinger.
So I have decided to draw our story into a book.
But today I have decided will be different.
And we have decided to promote Rohit to Class 10.
I have decided to accept your offer of carnal relations.
We have decided to have the wedding right here at home.
Your actresses have decided not to press charges.

Alternatives:

have made a decision
have chosen
have selected
have opted for
have settled on

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe a past event where a decision was made by someone or something.

"were decided"

Use 'were decided' when you want to talk about a decision that was made in the past by a person or a group. It is the past tense of 'decide'.

Examples:

The winners of the competition were decided yesterday.
The fate of the project was decided by the board of directors.
The rules of the game were decided before the tournament started.
The dates for the event were decided last month.
The location for the new office was decided after much discussion.

Show examples from the web [+]

In addition, the annual TACs were decided.
Custom began to be dictated when several cases of similar fact pattern were decided by different courts in the same way.
The first three transactions were decided following agreements between the Champalimaud Group and BSCH.
The Groups of teams were decided through a live Group Draw Show on September 10.
In 2012, the states of North Carolina, Florida, Ohio, and Virginia were decided by a margin of less than five percent.
The 1986 season was marked by highly competitive games (only four of the Raiders' sixteen regular season games were decided by more than a touchdown).
Winners were decided thorough an on-site voting system with cash prizes awarded to the top three candidates.
In 2016, to prepare for the forthcoming presidential election, two modest increases of 0.6 % were decided by Holland.
The winners were decided by the votes of the 137 Member National Authorities of ISAF.
Other cases concerning measures adopted by the authorities of the Basque provinces were decided on grounds of material selectivity [27].
Both measures were decided by the municipality and they have direct financial consequences for its budget; they thus involve the use of State resources.
The performance indicators adopted (type and number) were decided on a case-by-case basis.
(3) Both suspension measures were decided in application of the provisions laid down in Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 2007/2000.
All these policies, like enlargement, were decided at the summit, not by the Commission.
The final results were decided in September's meeting of the Judges Panel.
They were decided to be hung up to fight off the population desire to any resistance.
Also during the meeting, the dates for iberflora 2015 were decided on the basis of a survey carried out by the organisation among the exhibitors and visitors, which will be from September 30 to October 2.
These programmes were decided on after lengthy and time consuming debates in Council, while the European Parliament continuously urged the Member States to speed up their decision making and compromise seeking.
In no way do these use restrictions represent retro-active action, as from the start these projects were decided upon by investors without any legal guarantees that there would be a demand after 2012.
No new political initiatives were decided upon at the Conference and the Ministerial Declaration reflected already agreed policies.

Alternatives:

were determined
were settled
were resolved
were agreed upon
were chosen

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have decided vs were decided

"have decided"

"were decided"

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