to decide
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to decide on/against
To make a personal choice between several options. You choose one option and reject the others.
Ich kann mich nicht zwischen dem blauen und dem schwarzen Pullover entscheiden.
I can't decide between the blue and the black sweater.
'Entscheiden' (to decide) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ent-' remains firmly attached to the stem 'scheiden' in all sentence forms and tenses.
Sie entschied sich schnell für das Jobangebot.
She quickly decided on the job offer.
The grammar shows the meaning: 'sich entscheiden' (to decide, reflexive) means to make a personal choice. 'Etwas entscheiden' (to decide something, transitive) means to make a judgment. 'Über etwas entscheiden' (to decide something / determine something, with a preposition) describes the decisive factor.
Er hat sich für ein Studium in Berlin entschieden.
He decided on studying in Berlin.
When you make a personal choice, you always use 'sich entscheiden' (to decide) reflexively and with the prepositions 'für' (for) or 'gegen' (against), followed by the accusative.
Wir haben uns gegen den Kauf des Hauses entschieden.
We decided against buying the house.
In the meaning 'ein Urteil fällen' (to make a judgment), 'entscheiden' (to decide) is often used with a subordinate clause that begins with 'dass' (that), 'ob' (whether), or a question word.
Die Firma muss entscheiden, ob die Produktion erhöht wird.
The company has to decide whether production will be increased.
When something is the decisive factor for a result, the preposition 'über' (over/about) is used with the accusative. The subject of the sentence is then often a thing, not a person.
Ein einziges Tor entschied über Sieg und Niederlage.
A single goal decided victory and defeat.
to meet / to hit
'eine Entscheidung treffen' (to make a decision) and 'entscheiden' both have to do with making a choice. 'eine Entscheidung treffen' is a fixed expression with the noun 'Entscheidung'. It sounds somewhat more formal or emphasizes the decision as the result. 'sich entscheiden' is used very often when a person chooses between options. 'entscheiden' without 'sich' can also mean that someone or an authority makes a final decision about something. The words can be confused because they are similar in many situations. The form is important: you say 'eine Entscheidung treffen', but 'sich für oder gegen etwas entscheiden' (to decide for or against something).
Ich entscheide mich für den Sprachkurs am Abend.
I decide on the evening language course.
Nach dem Gespräch trifft Maria eine wichtige Entscheidung.
After the conversation, Maria makes an important decision.