Creo que es, no creo que sea: opinion, judgement and someone else's order
In an argument negation decides everything. The subjuntivo — the form for what is not put forward as fact — does a special job here. For example: “Creo que tiene razón, pero no lo diré en voz alta” — I think he is right, but I will not say it out loud. A rule from the Spanish course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
In an argument negation decides everything. The subjuntivo — the form for what is not put forward as fact — does a special job here.
An opinion stated takes the ordinary tense; an opinion denied takes that other form. Creo que tiene razón against no creo que tenga razón. Me parece que es caro against no me parece que sea caro.
While you assert, you are talking about what you hold to be fact. The moment you deny it, the fact is gone and the verb changes shape. Judgement always takes the second form: es importante que lo sepas.
Verbs of speech face both ways. Dice que viene is 'he says he is coming'. Dice que vengas is 'he tells you to come'. One form turns a report into an order.
Table
| turn of phrase | verb form | example | why |
|---|---|---|---|
| creo que | ordinary | creo que es caro | the speaker asserts |
| no creo que | subjuntivo | no creo que sea caro | the fact is in doubt |
| me parece que | ordinary | me parece que viene | the same |
| no me parece que | subjuntivo | no me parece que venga | the same |
| es importante que | subjuntivo | es importante que lo sepas | a judgement, not a fact |
| dice que (a report) | ordinary | dice que viene | passes the words on |
| dice que (an order) | subjuntivo | dice que vengas | demands action |
| pedir, exigir | subjuntivo | exige que le paguen | always a demand |
By example
- Creo que tiene razón, pero no lo diré en voz altaI think he is right, but I will not say it out loud
- No creo que ese argumento convenza a nadieI do not think that argument will convince anyone
- Es normal que la gente se queje del ruidoIt is normal for people to complain about the noise
- Dice que vengas antes de las ochoHe says you are to come before eight
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Creo que es, no creo que sea: how does it work in Spanish?
In an argument negation decides everything. The subjuntivo — the form for what is not put forward as fact — does a special job here.
What does it look like in an example sentence Spanish?
“Creo que tiene razón, pero no lo diré en voz alta” — I think he is right, but I will not say it out loud. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.