Why subjunctive or indicative? Why is "quiero que" subjunctive and "creo que" indicative?

Question

I'm trying to make sense of the verbs,"muy dificil", please help.

Answer 1

Yeah. "Quiero que" is translated "I hope that" or "I wish that" which isn't certain. However, "Creo que" (translated "I believe") is certain in the Spanish language.

Thank you mamasita that really helped - stokejen, May 11, 2010

Answer 2

Hello, and welcome to the forum. "Quiero que..." expresses your wish, so it must be subjunctive. When you use "creo que..." you are affirming something; there's very little doubt, so you don't use the subjunctive.

Thank you MacFadden, you also really helped - stokejen, May 11, 2010

You are most welcome. I'm glad I helped. - MacFadden, May 11, 2010

Answer 3

When I studied the subjunctive tense in an immersion class last year, I learned that both "quiero que" and "creo que" are subjunctive, however, I think that "creo que" can also be indicative depending on the context. I wish I could be more certain of this, sorry! =)

A trick that a fellow student in the class shared was WEDDINGS (when you should use the subjunctive tense):

• Wishes (desear/querer) - Deseo/Quiero que...
• Emotions - Estoy feliz/triste/etc. que...
• Denial - No creo que... (?)
• Doubt - Es dudo que...
• Impersonal Expressions
• Negation (instead of the imperative tense) - ¡No hables! ("don't speak", as opposed to "habla", speak)
• God (Ojalá) - Ojalá que...
• Suggestions

Not entirely certain about impersonal expressions. I hope this helped!

Answer 4

Quiero que ...does indicate, as mentioned above, that you want/wish for someone to do something. However, your wanting this does not mean that it will happen. This is where the element of "doubt" (for lack of a better word) comes in, and this makes the subjunctive necessary.

Mi mama quiere que trabaje. My mother wants me to work. This does not mean that I will fulfill her wish.

As for creo...Creo que ...indicates something that you hold to be true.

In the negative, No creo que..., you would follow with the subjunctive because of the negative/doubt aspect.

Creo que va a llover. I think/believe that it's going to rain.

No creo que vaya a llover. I don't think/doubt that it's going to rain.

Thanks Delores that helped alot - stokejen, May 11, 2010

You're welcome. - Delores--Lindsey, May 11, 2010

Answer 5

When you want someone to do something it's subjunctive: Insisto que el haga...., espero que ella ponga... etc o It's necessay that ...or it's important that...., also uses subjunctive. or when you're not sure: yo dudo que el venga ...... but when you are sure, creo que el viene. Subjunctive is used much less in English but it's still there.
I insist that they be here by 3:00,