No creo que vs. Creo que no

Question

I know that the construction 'no creo que' takes subjunctive:

No creo que él estudie.

But does the same hold true for 'creo que no...'? I'm confused as to whether it is treated like a 'creo que...,' implying indicative, or like a 'no creo que,' implying subjunctive.

Creo que no estudie.

Creo que no estudia.

Which is correct?

Answer 1

your exact question discussed

Re: creer + indicativo/subjuntivo

Recuerda que el sujeto eres tú.

Si la idea, concepto o noción existe dentro de tu mente ---> indicativo

...creo que va a llover

...creo que no va a llover

Si la idea, concepto o noción no existe dentro de tu mente ---> subjuntivo

...no creo que vaya a llover

This is an eloquent argument if you can wrap your head around no creo que refers to an concept outside your mind. That is a bit of a non-sequitur for me, but then, I have never been able to grasp the concept that you cannot declare what you do not believe.

I do not believe in ghosts (that ghosts exist... to fit the paradigm). That sounds like a declaration to me. I am informing you about my disbelief in something. It sounds the same to me as saying I believe that ghost do not exist. I've never really understood the rationale behind creo que and no creo que.

I hope that the discussion's answer makes more sense to you.

Answer 2

In your case using the indicative is correct because it is something you definitely believe. One thing interesting about the creer que construction is when you ask a question you almost always use the subjunctive, as far as I know, because you don't know the answer. Por ejemplo: ¿Crees que aquellas mujeres sean hermosas?

I would rather state it as you are not informing or declaring anything, because you do not know whether they believe that they are beautiful or not. - 0074b507, Apr 11, 2011

I hope you return to this, pesca - does my post agree with your opinion? I think it does. :) - galsally, Apr 11, 2011

gfreed, you can state it however you want, but the subjunctive comes down only a couple things: - pescador1, Apr 11, 2011

Indirect or implied command, sentiments and feelings, indefiniteness, doubt, unreality, future events, and provided that.... - pescador1, Apr 11, 2011

Sally, I totally agree with you. - pescador1, Apr 11, 2011

Answer 3

In English, it seems to me that...

"I don't think he studies" can mean either:

• 'I'm definitely of the opinion that he doesn't study' - I would equate this to "Creo que no estudia." Here we would probably stress the word 'I'.

or

• 'I'm not actually sure whether he studies or not'. Particularly if we stress the word 'think'. I'd guess that this is more like "No creo que estudie." because of the lack of certainty.

I'd love to know if my assumption is correct, or if I have it completely the wrong way round.....

Bi-lingual help required here please!

The difference in meaning may be irrelevant. You can declare guesses, opinions, probabilities, etc. They need not be certainties. The idea of doubt and the subjunctive is mostly misunderstood. When you say dudo que it is the same as no creo que...in - 0074b507, Apr 11, 2011

in my opionion this will not happen. It does not mean that if you can only say I am 90% sure this will happen that you must use the subjunctive. You can declare somethng that you think will probably happen. - 0074b507, Apr 11, 2011

I can declare that I will meet you at sunrise tommorow. Am I sure that the sun will rise tomorrow or that you will show up...no, but I do not have to use the subjunctive. I only have to intend to meet you tomorrow. - 0074b507, Apr 11, 2011

Answer 4

No creo que... is generally the beginning of a sentence.

Creo que no...is generally the answer to a question.

No creo que... = i dont think that...

Creo que no = I don't think so.

I hope you find this helpful.

I was wondering if creo que no + verb means that verb is subjunctive or not. I believe so, but I'm not sure... - someone09, Apr 10, 2011