Creo/creemos que+ indicative ‘I/we think that.. .’
No creo/creemos que+ subjunctive ‘I/we don’t think that.. .’Observe that when the main clause with creer is negative, the verb that follows must be
in the subjunctive and not the indicative.Creemos que es importante.
We think it’s important.
No creo que sea importante.
I don’t think it’s important. 18.1.5 (p. 85)
Note also tense agreement between the main verb and the complement verb when
creer is in a tense other than the present.Creía que era más responsable.
I thought/used to think he/she was more responsible.
Creí que era más responsable.
I thought he/she was more responsible.
No creí que fuera/fuese tan irresponsable.
I didn’t think he/she was so irresponsible. 19.2 (p. 95)
Creer, like parecer, can be followed by an adjective, but such a construction is
uncommon.La creo capaz de todo.
I think she is capable of anything.
No lo creo necesario.
I don’t think it is necessary.55.2.3 Pensar
Pensar, ‘to think’, is used in constructions similar to those with creer, except that
overall it is used less commonly.
Pienso que es mejor que no vayas.
I think you’d better not go.Pensamos que tiene un gran potencial.
We think he/she has great potential.
No pensaba que fuera tan impulsivo.
I didn’t think he was so impulsive.55.2.4 Opinar, considerar
In the expression of opinions, opinar, ‘to think’, and considerar, ‘to think’, ‘to
consider’, are much less common than parecer and creer, and they tend to be used in
more formal contexts, especially considerar. Although used infrequently, opinar can
be found in set phrases likeExpressing opinions 55.2