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Décision or choix: five French patterns for decisions and options

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

A compact guide to prendre une décision, faire un choix, avoir le choix and un large choix. Compare examples, complete six patterns and check your meaning.

In short

Use prendre une décision for making a decision and faire un choix for choosing between possibilities. Avoir le choix means having options, while un large choix means a wide selection. Learn une décision (feminine) and un choix (masculine) with the verbs that go with them.

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A woman considers pottery and painting materials in an art workshop.
Different activities offer a choix before a decision is made. Illustration: Atelier

Décision et choix · cinq expressions

1 · Make a decision: prendre une décision

Use de + infinitive to say what you decide to do. In the past: j’ai pris une décision.

J’ai pris la décision de reprendre mes études.I’ve made the decision to go back to studying.

Nous devons prendre une décision avant vendredi.We need to make a decision before Friday.

2 · Select an option: faire un choix

Use this when you select from possibilities. The choice can be small or life-changing.

Il faut faire un choix entre ces deux formations.We need to choose between these two training courses.

Elle a fait le choix de changer de métier.She chose to change career.

3 · Have options: avoir le choix

Add entre to name the alternatives. At this stage, several possibilities are available.

J’ai le choix entre un cours du matin et un cours du soir.I can choose between a morning course and an evening course.

4 · Have no choice: ne pas avoir le choix

This describes a situation in which you have no alternative. The article stays le in the negative expression.

Le seul cours disponible commence à neuf heures. Je n’ai pas le choix.The only available course starts at nine. I have no choice.

5 · A range of options: un large choix de

After de, name what is available. The noun choix keeps its -x in both the singular and the plural: un choix, des choix.

Ce centre propose un large choix de formations.This centre offers a wide range of training courses.

Mes choix dépendent de mes horaires de travail.My choices depend on my working hours.

What is the difference between décision and choix?

Elle a fait le choix de changer de métier.She chose to change career.

Focus: the path she selected

Elle a fait ce choix après un stage.
She made this choice after a work placement.

Elle a pris la décision de changer de métier.She made the decision to change career.

Focus: what she decided to do

Cette décision a surpris ses collègues.
This decision surprised her colleagues.

Both sentences can describe the same life change. Choix brings the selected path into focus; décision brings the act of deciding into focus. Both can concern something important. The clearest difference appears in availability expressions: avoir le choix and un large choix de formations.

Complete the six patterns

Use the infinitive in the first three gaps, the missing preposition in the next two, and the noun in the last. The hints give the English meaning.

1 · Decide, choose, have options

  1. Avant de m’inscrire, je dois une décision. (make a decision; infinitive)
  2. Entre les deux formations, il faut un choix. (make a choice; infinitive)
  3. Avec ces horaires, je vais le choix entre deux cours. (have a choice; infinitive)
  4. Elle a pris la décision reprendre ses études. (preposition before an infinitive)
  5. J’ai le choix le cours du lundi et celui du mercredi. (between)
  6. Le centre propose un large de formations. (selection)

Question 1No account needed
What does un large choix de formations describe?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A wide range of training courses.. Un large choix describes the range available. A learner can still be deciding which course to take.

Question 2No account needed
Complete the negative expression.Je n’ai pas ___ choix.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

le. The expression is avoir le choix, including in the negative: je n’ai pas le choix.

Question 3No account needed
Which pair has the correct genders?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

une décision / un choix. Décision is feminine and choix is masculine: une décision, un choix.

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