Subjonctif vs Indicatif with "penser que"

French has different "moods." The Indicative is for facts and reality. The Subjunctive is for feelings, doubts, and possibilities. When you use penser que, you are sharing an opinion. If you say Je pense que..., you are being direct. You are stating what you believe to be true. This triggers the Indicative. But what happens when you add a "not"? When you say Je ne pense pas que..., you introduce doubt. You are literally saying you don't think something is a reality. This "doubt" is the perfect home for the Subjunctive. It’s like a grammar traffic light. Green light for facts (Indicative). Yellow light for doubt (Subjunctive). It keeps the conversation flowing and adds nuance to your speech.

1. 1To use this rule, you need to know two different verb forms. Let's look at how to build them.
2. 2For the Indicative (Positive sentences):
3. 3Just use the regular present tense you already know.
4. 4Example: tu es (you are).
5. 5For the Subjunctive (Negative sentences):
6. 6Start with the ils form of the verb in the present tense.
7. 7Remove the -ent ending to find the stem.
8. 8Add the subjunctive endings: -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
9. 9Example: For être, the subjunctive is tu sois.
10. 10It sounds like a lot of steps. In reality, most regular verbs sound exactly the same in both moods. The irregular ones like être, avoir, and faire are the ones to watch. They like to be the center of attention.

Use the Indicative after penser que when you are making a positive statement. This is your default mode. You are at a restaurant and think the food is good? Say Je pense que c'est bon. You are at a job interview and think you are the best candidate? Say Je pense que je suis le meilleur. It shows confidence. It tells the listener that in your world, this is a fact. You aren't questioning it. You are just reporting it. It is simple, direct, and very common. Use it for your everyday observations and firm beliefs.

This is where we switch to the Subjunctive. You use this mood when penser que becomes negative or a question.

• Negative: Je ne pense pas que ce soit vrai (I don't think that's true).
• Question: Penses-tu qu'il vienne ? (Do you think he's coming?).

Why the switch? Because you aren't stating a fact anymore. You are expressing uncertainty. You are opening the door to the possibility that the thing might not happen. If you are asking a direction and aren't sure, use the subjunctive. It sounds more polite and nuanced. However, in very casual French, people sometimes stick to the indicative for questions. But if you want to sound like a pro, the subjunctive is your best friend here.

The biggest mistake is staying in the Indicative when you use the negative.

• ✗ Je ne pense pas qu'il est là. (Wrong)
• ✓ Je ne pense pas qu'il soit là. (Correct)

It feels natural to keep the verb the same, but French loves that mood shift. Another mistake is using the subjunctive for positive thoughts.

• ✗ Je pense qu'il vienne. (Wrong)
• ✓ Je pense qu'il vient. (Correct)

Remember: Positive = Normal. Negative = Subjunctive. Also, watch out for the word que. You must always have que to connect the two parts of the sentence. Without que, the whole structure falls apart. It's the glue holding your thoughts together.

This rule isn't just for penser. It works for other "opinion" verbs too.

• Croire que (To believe that) follows the exact same pattern.
• Trouver que (To find/think that) also switches in the negative.
• Être sûr que (To be sure that) is a bit different. Because you are "sure," you almost always use the indicative.

Think of penser and croire as the "flexible" verbs. They change their mood based on your certainty. Verbs of emotion, like vouloir que (to want that), always take the subjunctive, even if they are positive. Penser is special because it lives in both worlds. It’s the chameleon of French grammar.