Usage of the subjunctive with creer

Question

Por qué a veces se usa el subjuntivo despues del verbo creer y a veces no se usa el. Me confunde porque creía que siempre se debe usar el subjuntivo despues de usar verbos como creer que expresa una creencia. Si alguien puede explicar esto a mí yo lo agradecería muchísimo. ¡Muchas gracias!

Answer 1

The verb "creer" does not invoke or trigger the subjunctive when it is used in a positive sense. "Creer" only invokes the subjunctive when it is used negatively. Then it is expressing "doubt" or "denial". The action of "believing" does not invoke the subjunctive. When you don't believe something, you are expressing doubt or denial. It is this action, not belief, that triggers the subjunctive. An example follows.

You believe that life is a party.

Crees que la vida es una fiesta. <--- no subjunctive

You don't believe that life is a party.

No crees que la vida sea una fiesta. <--- subjunctive is invoked

Gracias! - miliard, Jun 3, 2012

Very nice, Esteban! :)) - Noetol, Jun 3, 2012

Gracias, Noetol! - Esteban3304, Jun 3, 2012

Why couldn't someone say this earlier? (I'm sure they have, I just haven't noticed) :P Thanks a lot, this has been a breakthrough for me. - inkubzz, Jun 4, 2012

Muchas gracias! Agradezco su respuesta. - losgigantes10, Jun 5, 2012

Answer 2

Hello and welcome to the forum. If you'll use our dictionary, under creer, you'll find it can also mean, to think.

to think

no creo, creo que no -> I don't think so 

This is just one example of "creer" being used in the indicative and not the subjunctive.