Doubt and denial: no creo que vs creo que
Belief takes the indicative; doubt and denial take the subjunctive. Quizás, tal vez and a lo mejor.
Part of the free B1 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.
Spanish draws a clear line between asserting something (saying you believe it is true) and doubting or denying it.
- Believing, thinking, being sure → indicative.
- Not believing, doubting, not being sure → subjunctive (The present subjunctive: forms).
Creo que / no creo que
| Indicative (you assert it) | Subjunctive (you doubt or deny it) |
|---|---|
| creo que | no creo que |
| pienso que | no pienso que |
| me parece que | no me parece que |
| estoy seguro de que | no estoy seguro de que |
| no dudo que | dudo que |
| niego que |
- Creo que Juan tiene razón.I think Juan is right.
- No creo que Juan tenga razón.I don't think Juan is right.
- Pienso que es una buena idea.I think it's a good idea.
- No pienso que sea tan difícil.I don't think it's that difficult.
- Dudo que lleguemos a tiempo.I doubt we'll arrive on time.
- Estoy seguro de que te va a gustar.I'm sure you're going to like it.
- No estoy segura de que el banco abra hoy.I'm not sure the bank is open today.
- Me parece que os habéis equivocado.I think you've made a mistake.
The subjunctive here also covers the future: No creo que venga = I don't think he'll come.
No dudo que (I don't doubt that) usually takes the indicative, because not doubting is a way of asserting. You will sometimes see the subjunctive after it too; both occur.
Questions with creer
In a question, ¿Crees que…? normally takes the indicative: ¿Crees que lloverá? The subjunctive is also possible and adds a note of doubt: ¿Crees que llueva? Both are correct.
Maybe: quizás, tal vez, a lo mejor
- Quizás / quizá, tal vez, posiblemente, probablemente: either mood. The subjunctive sounds less certain.
- A lo mejor: always the indicative. It is very common in Spain.
- Tal vez venga mañana.Maybe he'll come tomorrow.
- A lo mejor llueve esta tarde.Maybe it'll rain this afternoon.
Latin America
The rule is the same. With ustedes: No creo que ustedes tengan razón. In Mexico, ¿Crees que llueva? (subjunctive in the question) is especially frequent.
Common mistakes
Creo que tenga razón: an affirmative belief takes the indicative: Creo que tiene razón.No creo que tiene razón: a negated belief takes the subjunctive: No creo que tenga razón.Dudo que vendrá: doubt takes the subjunctive: Dudo que venga.A lo mejor venga: a lo mejor always takes the indicative: A lo mejor viene.
Practice
- Creo que el examen _____ fácil.Options: será · sea · fuera · ser
Show the answer
será — An affirmative belief takes the indicative.
- No creo que el examen _____ fácil.Options: sea · es · será · ser
Show the answer
sea — A negated belief takes the subjunctive, which also covers the future.
- Dudo que mi hermano _____ (querer) venir.
Show the answer
quiera
- Estoy seguro de que _____ (saber) la respuesta.
Show the answer
sabéis — Being sure takes the indicative: vosotros sabéis or ustedes saben.