Belief verbs: indicative or subjunctive depending on certainty

Level 3

Affirmative: Indicative (Fact/Assertion)
Negative/Question: Subjunctive (Doubt/Non-assertion)

How It Works

In French, verbs of opinion and belief are 'mood-shifters.' Their effect on the following clause, introduced by the subordinating conjunction que, changes based on the sentence structure. This applies to common verbs like penser que, croire que, and trouver que (to find/think that).

  • Affirmative Statements: When you say 'I think that...' (Je pense que...), you are asserting a reality. This requires the indicative mood.
  • Negative Statements: When you negate the verb (Je ne trouve pas que...), you shift into the realm of doubt or denial, which triggers the subjunctive.
  • Interrogative Statements: In formal questions using inversion (Croyez-vous que...?), the subjunctive is used because the truth is being questioned. However, questions using est-ce que (Est-ce que vous croyez que...?) typically keep the indicative.

Nuances and Exceptions:

  • Negative-Interrogative: If a question is both negative and inverted (Ne pensez-vous pas que...?), the indicative is often used because the speaker actually expects an affirmative answer.
  • The verb 'savoir': Unlike opinion verbs, savoir is a 'factive' verb. It acknowledges the following clause as a fact, so it almost always stays in the indicative, even when negated (Je ne savais pas qu'il était là).
  • Formal Exception: In very formal or literary French, you may encounter the fixed subjunctive expression Je ne sache pas que... (I am not aware that...).

Note on Register: In casual spoken French, speakers often use the indicative even in negative or inverted questions (e.g., Tu crois pas qu'il a raison ?). However, using the subjunctive remains the standard for written and formal contexts.

Examples (5)

  1. Je pense qu'il est malade.

    I think he is sick.

    Word by Word: I think that he is sick.

    The main verb is affirmative, so we use the indicative 'est'.

  2. Je ne pense pas qu'il soit malade.

    I don't think he is sick.

    Word by Word: I not think not that he be sick.

    The negation 'ne...pas' triggers the subjunctive 'soit' because the assertion is withdrawn.

  3. Croyez-vous qu'elle fasse attention ?

    Do you believe she is paying attention?

    Word by Word: Believe you that she makes attention?

    In this formal inverted question, the subjunctive 'fasse' is used to express uncertainty.

  4. J'espère qu'il viendra demain.

    I hope he will come tomorrow.

    Word by Word: I hope that he will come tomorrow.

    Unlike other verbs of thought, 'espérer' takes the indicative in the affirmative.

  5. Il ne croit pas que nous ayons raison.

    He doesn't believe that we are right.

    Word by Word: He not believes not that we have reason.

    The negative 'ne croit pas' triggers the subjunctive 'ayons'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the indicative after a negative opinion verb.

    Je ne pense pas qu'il vient.
    Je ne pense pas qu'il vienne.

    After 'ne pas penser que', French usually uses the subjunctive (vienne). The indicative is sometimes used when the speaker is sure of the fact, but the subjunctive is the safe choice.

  • Using the subjunctive with 'espérer' in the affirmative.

    J'espère qu'il vienne.
    J'espère qu'il viendra.

    Even though 'hoping' feels subjective, the verb 'espérer' is an exception and takes the indicative (often the future tense) in affirmative sentences.

  • Using the subjunctive when the subject of both clauses is the same.

    Je ne pense pas que je vienne.
    Je ne pense pas venir.

    If the subject is the same (I... I...), French prefers using the infinitive instead of a 'que' clause with the subjunctive.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Belief verbs: indicative or subjunctive depending on certaintyLevel 3

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.