In spanish we normally say "Tomar una decisión". But, which one will be the correct translation?
- Make a choice
- Make a decision
- Take a decision
Decision: the act of or need for making up one’s mind.
Choice: the right, power, or opportunity to choose.
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Related: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/6431/what-is-the-difference-between-make-decision-and-take-decision – 79037662 Dec 06 '19 at 21:38
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1English Language Learners is where you should be. – David Dec 06 '19 at 22:19
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Make a decision
This is a general act and implies a multitude of options, abstract options or unspecific other options. For example, "I finally made a decision about what to do with my finances."
Make a choice
In this situation, you are describing a specific action from a limited or specific number of options. For example, in the movie the Matrix, Keanu Reeves is offered a choice between the blue pill and the red pill.
Decide is NEVER used in a transitive situation, ie with a direct object. Whereas, choose can be used as both a transitive and intransitive verb.
You can say.
I choose the red pill.
You can also say
I choose to take the red pill.
If you wanted to use decide in this sentence, it MUST be used with an infinitive following it.
I decide TO TAKE the red pill. You cannot say I decide the red pill
I found a good source that describes choose as catenative verb.
Usage notes:
- This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive.
And finally, in my dialect of English (American), I would never say:
Take a decision.
Karlomanio
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take a decision seems to be what committees do, in some professional argot. – Anton Sherwood Dec 07 '19 at 04:50
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Make a decision is the English equivalent of tomar una decisión.
It's not uncommon for different languages to use different verbs for actions like these.
Caution: this is for American English. British English might be different.
Walter Mitty
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