Subjonctif vs Indicatif après "penser que"

This grammar point relies on the concept of "subjectivity." The Indicative mood is for facts and certainties. It is the "real world" mood. The Subjunctive mood is for feelings, doubts, and possibilities. It is the "maybe world" mood. When you say Je pense que, you are stating a belief. To the French ear, that sounds like a fact. So, you use the normal Indicative mood. However, when you say Je ne pense pas que, you introduce doubt. You are literally saying the idea might not be true. That doubt triggers the Subjunctive. It is like a light switch in your brain. Positive sentence? Switch is off (Indicative). Negative sentence? Switch is on (Subjunctive). It is a subtle way to show how sure you are.

1. 1Start with your main clause: Je pense or Je ne pense pas.
2. 2Add the connector que (or qu' before a vowel).
3. 3Pick your subject for the second part of the sentence.
4. 4Choose the correct verb mood for the second verb.
5. 5For Je pense que, use the Present Indicative (e.g., tu es).
6. 6For Je ne pense pas que, use the Present Subjunctive (e.g., tu sois).
7. 7For questions with inversion like Penses-tu que...?, use the Subjunctive.
8. 8Keep the rest of your sentence exactly the same.

Use the Indicative when you are making a standard claim. Imagine you are at a cafe. You see a friend across the street. You say, Je pense qu'il nous voit (I think he sees us). This is a positive statement. Use the Subjunctive when you are skeptical or unsure. Maybe your friend is looking at their phone. You say, Je ne pense pas qu'il nous voie (I don't think he sees us). Notice the tiny spelling change in voie? That is the Subjunctive working its magic. You also use Subjunctive in formal questions. If you ask, Penses-tu qu'il pleuve ? (Do you think it's raining?), use Subjunctive. It shows you are genuinely asking because you do not know. It adds a layer of politeness and nuance to your speech. It is perfect for job interviews or serious debates.

Do not use the Subjunctive for simple, positive thoughts. If you are 100% sure, keep it simple. Je pense que c'est bon (I think it is good) is perfect. Never use Subjunctive after Je pense que in a normal sentence. Also, avoid it with Est-ce que. If you ask, Est-ce que tu penses qu'il vient ?, use the Indicative. Est-ce que is a very grounded, factual way to ask questions. It does not usually trigger the "doubt" mood like inversion does. Also, do not use it if there is no que. If you just say Je le pense (I think so), no Subjunctive is needed. The Subjunctive needs that que to act as a bridge. Without the bridge, the mood cannot cross over.

One big mistake is using Subjunctive for everything. Some learners think Subjunctive makes them sound smarter. It actually just makes the sentence grammatically incorrect! Only use it when the rules of doubt apply. Another mistake is forgetting the i in nous and vous forms. For many verbs, the Subjunctive looks like the Indicative. But for nous and vous, it often looks like the Imparfait. For example, que nous pensions. Don't forget that extra i! Also, watch out for irregular verbs like être and avoir. They change completely in the Subjunctive. Je ne pense pas qu'il soit là is correct. Je ne pense pas qu'il est là is a common slip-up. Even if you mess up, people will understand you. Just keep practicing those irregular stems!

This rule applies to other "opinion" verbs too. Croire que (to believe that) follows the exact same logic. Je crois qu'il vient (Indicative) vs Je ne crois pas qu'il vienne (Subjunctive). Trouver que (to find/think that) is similar but slightly different. Usually, trouver que stays in the Indicative because it is a personal observation. Je trouve que c'est beau is standard. However, penser and croire are the big ones to watch. They are the leaders of the "Certainty vs. Doubt" club. Think of penser as your default setting for opinions. If you change the setting to "Negative," the Subjunctive light turns on. It is a very consistent pattern once you see it.