Subjonctif vs Indicatif après "croire que"

French has two main ways to talk about reality. The Indicative is for facts and certainties. The Subjunctive is for doubt, feelings, and possibilities. The verb croire que acts like a switch. When you say "I believe that..." you are usually sure. You are stating a personal fact. This triggers the Indicative mood. But what happens when you say "I don't believe that..."? Now, you are introducing doubt. You are saying something might not be true. This shift in certainty changes the verb. The verb after que must move to the Subjunctive. It is all about the level of conviction. If the sentence is positive, use the Indicative. If the sentence is negative or a question, use the Subjunctive. It is a simple logic gate for your brain.

1. 1Start with your subject and the verb croire.
2. 2Add the word que to connect your thoughts.
3. 3Look at your first verb. Is it positive? Use the Indicative next.
4. 4Example: Je crois que + tu es (Indicative) + gentil.
5. 5Is your first verb negative? Use the Subjunctive next.
6. 6Example: Je ne crois pas que + tu sois (Subjunctive) + gentil.
7. 7Is it a question with inversion? Use the Subjunctive.
8. 8Example: Crois-tu que + ce soit (Subjunctive) + vrai ?
9. 9Remember to conjugate the second verb correctly for its subject.
10. 10Always double-check if you are expressing a fact or a doubt.

Use the Indicative after croire que in positive statements. This is your default mode. You use it when you are sharing a belief. Imagine you are at a cafe. You see a friend across the street. You say, "I believe it is Paul." In French, this is Je crois que c'est Paul. You use est because it is a positive statement. You are expressing what you think is a fact. Use it in job interviews to show confidence. "I believe I have the skills." Use it when giving directions. "I believe the museum is on the right." It sounds solid and reliable. It tells the listener you are not just guessing wildly. You have a reason for your belief. It is the "safe zone" of this grammar rule.

Do not use the Indicative if you are being negative. If you say "I don't believe...", stop right there. Your brain should scream "Subjunctive!" This happens because you are denying a reality. You are creating a space of uncertainty. For example, "I don't believe he is coming." This becomes Je ne crois pas qu'il vienne. Also, avoid the Indicative in formal questions. If you ask Crois-tu que...?, you use the Subjunctive. It sounds more polite and tentative. However, in casual speech, people often break this rule. They might say Tu crois qu'il vient ? using the Indicative. But for your exams and formal writing, stick to the Subjunctive. It shows you know the high-level rules. Think of the Subjunctive as the "uncertainty shield."

The biggest mistake is using the Subjunctive everywhere. Some learners think the Subjunctive makes them sound smart. It doesn't if it is used incorrectly! Don't say Je crois qu'il soit là. That sounds very strange to a French person. It is like saying "I am sure that he maybe is here." Another mistake is forgetting the que. In English, we often skip "that." We say "I believe he is here." In French, you must always include que. It is the glue that holds the sentence together. Also, watch out for the negative-interrogative. If you ask Ne crois-tu pas que... ?, you actually use the Indicative. Why? Because you are actually suggesting something is true. It is a trick question! Grammar can be a bit of a prankster sometimes.

This rule applies to other verbs of opinion too. Penser que (to think that) works exactly the same way. Je pense qu'il est là vs Je ne pense pas qu'il soit là. Trouver que (to find/think that) also follows this logic. Je trouve qu'il est beau vs Je ne trouve pas qu'il soit beau. However, verbs of certainty like être sûr que are different. Even in the negative, some people still use the Indicative. But croire is the most common one you will use. It is the leader of the "opinion verb" pack. If you master croire, you master them all. It is like learning to ride a bike. Once you get the balance, you can ride any bike in the shop.