Question
Updated on
6 Dec 2019
- English (UK)
-
German
Question about German
What is the difference between entscheiden and sich entscheiden ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between entscheiden and sich entscheiden ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
"Wir haben uns für einen anderen Mitarbeiter entschieden."
I understand it, but why the "uns" and "für"?
I understand it, but why the "uns" and "für"?
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- English (US)
- German
entscheiden means to decide and sich entscheiden means to decide on Yourself
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- German
"entscheiden" is admittedly a little tricky. You probably know the "sich" from normal reflexive verbs. "für" is simply the appropriate preposition, just like you say
he decided on ....
he made up his mind to ....
In some cases it does not matter whether you use "sich" or not, in other cases only "sich" works
https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/entscheiden
If you express "there is a choice", both work. If the decision was made, you have to use "sich"
Sie können (sich) zwischen einem Fisch- und einem Fleischgericht entscheiden.
Er hat sich für das Fischgericht entschieden. (the decision was made, "sich" is necessary)
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- English (UK)
@Halala Wow. I've been saying this wrong my entire time in German. haha
So practically all use of the past tense of "entscheiden" needs "sich"? And the present tense doesn't really matter?
So practically all use of the past tense of "entscheiden" needs "sich"? And the present tense doesn't really matter?
- German
@bhkkakwpkpcp As far as I know that is correct. Check out
https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/entscheiden
for further details and some examples.
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- English (UK)
@Halala Why can you say? Both are that they have come to a decision. This was an example on the Wiki.
Ich habe entschieden, ab nächster Woche nicht mehr zu rauchen.
Ich habe mich entschieden, ab nächster Woche nicht mehr zu rauchen.
Ich habe entschieden, ab nächster Woche nicht mehr zu rauchen.
Ich habe mich entschieden, ab nächster Woche nicht mehr zu rauchen.
- German
Because I did not fully pay attention. It's like I wrote in my earlier explanation; if there is still a decision to be made (namely the event/....) that was decided on is not in the past and thus can't be altered anymore "entscheiden" (without "sich") does not seem to work anymore.
In your case, the decision is still up for debate since the person has not actually stopped yet.
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- English (UK)
@Halala
Ich habe entschieden, in Mai meinen Urlaub zu nehmen.
Ich habe mich entschieden, in April meinen Urlaub zu nehmen.
Without "sich" means I've only half decided and I might change my plans, but with "sich" means that it's absolutely certain? Such as in the example that I've already got the time off from work and booked accommodation.
Ich habe entschieden, in Mai meinen Urlaub zu nehmen.
Ich habe mich entschieden, in April meinen Urlaub zu nehmen.
Without "sich" means I've only half decided and I might change my plans, but with "sich" means that it's absolutely certain? Such as in the example that I've already got the time off from work and booked accommodation.
- German
I honestly don't feel that the meaning does change when both alternatives are possible. It is however a fact that you would not use "entscheiden" without "sich" when the decision is already made.
I suppose you will never be wrong when you simply stick to always using it reflexive (at least I can't really think of any example where it would not work)
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