The pattern

"I've decided to" plus a verb announces a decision. The "I've", short for "I have", is the present perfect, and it matters: it says the deciding is finished and the result is now. "I decided to" tells a story about the past; "I've decided to" tells the person in front of you what is going to happen. This is how people announce a move, a new job, a diet, a breakup.

Because it sounds final, it closes a discussion. Say it when you mean it, and follow it with a reason if the listener deserves one.

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

  7. The negative goes after "decided": decided not to.

  10. The honest answer when you have not. Nobody minds hearing it once.

Check yourself

1What is the difference between "I decided to" and "I've decided to"?
2Where does "not" go?
3You have not made up your mind. What do you say?

Practice · 3 min

Announce a decision. Prompt on the left, one natural sentence on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.