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### Expressing doubt with negative opinions

Affirmative opinion verbs like **penser** (to think) and **croire** (to believe) express certainty and take the indicative mood. However, when these verbs are negative (**je ne pense pas que**, **je ne crois pas que**), they introduce doubt. This uncertainty requires the **subjunctive** mood.

Notice how verbs change to their subjunctive forms (like **soit** for *être* or **fasse** for *faire*) after a negative opinion:

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### Questioning opinions

Similarly, asking a formal question using inversion (**Pensez-vous que... ?**) questions reality rather than stating a fact. Because the outcome is uncertain, these questions also require the subjunctive.

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### Indicative vs. Subjunctive

To see this contrast in action, look at how an affirmative opinion (indicative) pairs with a negative opinion (subjunctive):

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Even if a belief seems unrealistic, stating it as an affirmative fact keeps it in the indicative:

{{item:887693}}

Keep this in mind for professional discussions: affirm with the indicative, but doubt and question with the subjunctive.

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Doubtful opinions (je ne pense pas que)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

phrase

prep

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Definite articles and elision (le, la, l')

Indefinite articles (un, une)

Identifying vs. describing (c'est vs. il est)

Feminine adjective agreement (+e)

Plural pronouns and 'to be' (nous sommes, vous êtes)

Formal and informal you (tu vs. vous)

Plural nouns and indefinite articles (des... -s)

Plural definite articles (les)

Plural adjective agreement (+s)

Stressed pronouns (moi, toi, lui)

The verb "to have" singular (j'ai, tu as, il a)

The verb "to have" plural (nous avons, vous avez, ils ont)

There is / there are (il y a)

Basic verbal negation (ne... pas)

Negating "there is" (il n'y a pas de)

Regular -er verbs singular (je parle, tu parles, il parle)

Regular -er verbs plural (nous parlons, vous parlez, ils parlent)

The verb "to be called" (s'appeler)

Yes/no questions with intonation (Tu parles ?)

Yes/no questions with "Est-ce que" (Est-ce que tu parles ?)

Informal questions (qui, que, quoi)

Standard questions (est-ce que)

Singular possessives (mon, ton, son)

Plural possessives (notre, votre, leur)

Demonstrative adjectives (ce, cet, cette, ces)

Adjective placement

Numbers 1 to 20

Numbers 21 to 100

Age and physical states (avoir)

The verb to go (aller)

The preposition to/at (à, au, aux)

Question word for location (où)

Prepositions for cities and countries (à, en, au, aux)

The verb to come (venir)

The preposition from/of (de, du, des)

Question word for origin (d'où)

The verb to do/make (faire)

Days of the week (lundi, mardi)

Telling time (il est... heure)

Question words for time (quand, à quelle heure)

The verb to take or have (prendre)

The verb to drink (boire)

Partitive articles (du, de la, de l')

Zero quantity (pas de)

Expressions of quantity (un peu de, beaucoup de)

Asking how much or how many (combien, combien de)

Very vs. a lot (très, beaucoup)

The verb to want (vouloir)

Polite requests (je voudrais)

The verb to be able to (pouvoir)

Obligation (devoir)

General obligation (il faut)

Why and because (pourquoi, parce que)

Expressing purpose (pour)

Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous)

Daily routine verbs (se lever, s'habiller)

Adverbs of frequency (parfois, rarement)

Never (ne... jamais)

Regular -ir verbs (choisir, finir)

Regular -re verbs (attendre, répondre)

Irregular -ir verbs (sortir, partir, dormir)

Informal 'we' (on)

The imperative mood

Direct object pronouns (le, la, les, l')

The near future (aller + infinitive)

The recent past (venir de + infinitive)

The passé composé with avoir

Irregular past participles (eu, été, fait, pris, vu)

The passé composé with être

The negative passé composé (ne ... pas)

Saying goodbye

Please, sorry and thank you

Which / what (quel)

The indefinite adjective (tout, tous)

Irregular feminine adjectives (-euse, -ve)

Double consonant adjectives (-enne, -ette)

Feminine adjective endings (-ère, -trice)

Irregular plurals (-x)

Plurals ending in -al (-aux)

Present tense stem changes (e to è)

Accent stem changes (é to è)

Double consonant verbs (appeler, jeter)

Verbs ending in -yer (payer, envoyer)

Irregular communication verbs (dire, lire)

Irregular action verbs (écrire, mettre)

Question	Answer
the proposal	la proposition
unrealistic	irréaliste
I do not think that the proposal is unrealistic.	Je ne pense pas que la proposition soit irréaliste.
the impact (m)	l'impact
beneficial	bénéfique
Do you think that the impact is beneficial for our project?	Pensez-vous que l'impact soit bénéfique pour notre projet ?
relevant	pertinent
to adopt	adopter
the approach (f)	l'approche
We do not think that it is relevant to adopt this approach.	Nous ne pensons pas qu'il soit pertinent d'adopter cette approche.
the efficiency (f)	l'efficacité
Do you think that our team has the necessary efficiency?	Pensez-vous que notre équipe ait l'efficacité nécessaire ?
Do you really think that the objective is unrealistic?	Pensez-vous vraiment que l'objectif soit irréaliste ?
the associate (m)	l'associé
My associate does not think that the proposal is relevant.	Mon associé ne pense pas que la proposition soit pertinente.
I do not believe that the team is making this choice.	Je ne crois pas que l'équipe fasse ce choix.
Our associate does not think that the agreement has a beneficial impact.	Notre associé ne pense pas que l'accord ait un impact bénéfique.
I think that the proposal is relevant, but I do not think that it is perfect.	Je pense que la proposition est pertinente, mais je ne pense pas qu'elle soit parfaite.
Do you think that this approach is effective?	Pensez-vous que cette approche soit efficace ?
the obstacle (m)	l'obstacle
Do you think that we can avoid this obstacle?	Pensez-vous que nous puissions éviter cet obstacle ?
Our associates think that the deadline is unrealistic.	Nos associés pensent que le délai est irréaliste.
I do not think that its efficiency is an obstacle.	Je ne pense pas que son efficacité soit un obstacle.
Do you think that we are adopting this approach?	Pensez-vous que nous adoptions cette approche ?