
creer Present Subjunctive Conjugation
creer — to think
The present subjunctive of creer is regular: crea, creas, crea, creamos, creáis, crean.
creer Present Subjunctive Forms
When to Use the Present Subjunctive
Crucially, use the subjunctive when you express doubt or denial (e.g., 'No creo que...'). If you are certain ('Creo que...'), use the indicative.
Notes on creer in the Present Subjunctive
Creer is regular in the subjunctive, but it looks very similar to the verb 'crear' (to create). Be careful with the vowels!
Example Sentences
No creo que él crea mi historia.
I don't think he believes my story.
él/ella/usted
Dudo que ellos nos crean.
I doubt they believe us.
ellos/ellas/ustedes
Espero que creas en ti mismo.
I hope you believe in yourself.
tú
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'crea' after 'Creo que...'.
Correct: Use the indicative: 'Creo que él viene'.
Why: Affirmative belief (creer que) triggers the indicative. Only doubt or negation (no creer que) triggers the subjunctive.
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: creo
The present tense of creer is regular: creo, crees, cree, creemos, creéis, creen.
Preterite
yo: creí
The preterite of creer is irregular in the third person, where the 'i' changes to a 'y': creyó and creyeron.
Imperfect
yo: creía
The imperfect of creer is regular: creía, creías, creía, creíamos, creíais, creían.
Future
yo: creeré
The future tense of creer is regular: creeré, creerás, creerá, creeremos, creeréis, creerán.
Conditional
yo: creería
The conditional of creer is regular: creería, creerías, creería, creeríamos, creeríais, creerían.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: creyera
The imperfect subjunctive of creer is irregular, using the 'y': creyera, creyeras, creyera, creyéramos, creyerais, creyeran.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: cree
The affirmative imperative of creer is: cree (tú), crea (usted), cread (vosotros), crean (ustedes).
Negative Imperative
yo: no creas
The negative imperative of creer uses the present subjunctive: no creas, no crea, no creamos, no creáis, no crean.