Subjunctive or indicative?
Verbs such as croire (que) (to believe that), penser (que) (to think that), trouver (que) (to find that), être certain que, être sûr que (to be sure that) and espérer (que) (to hope that) are either followed by a verb in the indicative or subjunctive according to the affirmative, interrogative, or negative structure of the phrase.
When these verbs are used in declarative or affirmative statements, verbs in the que clause remain in the indicative.
Victor pense que Marcel est fou. Victor thinks that Marcel is mad.
Je trouve que les extraterrestres ont un charme fou. I find that the aliens have a crazy appeal.
Il est certain que Victor viendra nous voir demain. It's sure that Victor will see us tomorrow.
J'espère qu'il fera beau cet été. I hope the weather will be nice this summer.
Je suis convaincu que vous avez raison. I'm convinced that you are correct / right.
Je trouve que les extraterrestres ont un charme fou. I find that the aliens have a crazy appeal.
Il est certain que Victor viendra nous voir demain. It's sure that Victor will see us tomorrow.
J'espère qu'il fera beau cet été. I hope the weather will be nice this summer.
Je suis convaincu que vous avez raison. I'm convinced that you are correct / right.
When the verb is negative, or in its interrogative inverted form, it can be followed by the subjunctive or indicative according to the degree of certainty that is expressed.
Victor ne pense pas que Marcel soit fou. Victor doesn't think that Marcel is mad (subjunctive = he doesn't think that Marcel is mad but he's not sure)
Victor ne pense pas que Marcel est fou. Victor doesn't think that Marcel is mad (indicative = he is sure that Marcel isn't mad)
Trouves-tu que les extraterrestres aient un charme fou ? Don't you find that the aliens have a crazy appeal? (subjunctive = we're expressing a doubt)
Trouves-tu que les extraterrestres ont un charme fou ? Do you find that the aliens have a crazy appeal? (indicative = this is a simple question)
Victor ne pense pas que Marcel est fou. Victor doesn't think that Marcel is mad (indicative = he is sure that Marcel isn't mad)
Trouves-tu que les extraterrestres aient un charme fou ? Don't you find that the aliens have a crazy appeal? (subjunctive = we're expressing a doubt)
Trouves-tu que les extraterrestres ont un charme fou ? Do you find that the aliens have a crazy appeal? (indicative = this is a simple question)
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