Introduction
The French verb "croire" means "to believe" and is used to express beliefs, opinions, or convictions. It is an irregular verb, and its conjugations vary across different tenses and moods.
Conjugation of "Croire"
Present Tense
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | crois |
| Tu | crois |
| Il/Elle/On | croit |
| Nous | croyons |
| Vous | croyez |
| Ils/Elles | croient |
Imperfect Tense
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | croyais |
| Tu | croyais |
| Il/Elle/On | croyait |
| Nous | croyions |
| Vous | croyiez |
| Ils/Elles | croyaient |
Future Tense
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | croirai |
| Tu | croiras |
| Il/Elle/On | croira |
| Nous | croirons |
| Vous | croirez |
| Ils/Elles | croiront |
Present Subjunctive
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | croie |
| Tu | croies |
| Il/Elle/On | croie |
| Nous | croyions |
| Vous | croyiez |
| Ils/Elles | croient |
Past Participle
- cru
Compound Tenses
The past participle "cru" is used with auxiliary verbs to form compound tenses.
Passé Composé
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | ai cru |
| Tu | as cru |
| Il/Elle/On | a cru |
| Nous | avons cru |
| Vous | avez cru |
| Ils/Elles | ont cru |
Pluperfect
| Person | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Je | avais cru |
| Tu | avais cru |
| Il/Elle/On | avait cru |
| Nous | avions cru |
| Vous | aviez cru |
| Ils/Elles | avaient cru |
Usage of "Croire"
Expressing Belief or Opinion
- Je crois que tu as raison.
(I believe that you’re right.)
- Tu crois en Dieu.
(You believe in God.)
- Il croit que c’est une bonne idée.
(He thinks it's a good idea.)
- Nous croyons aux fantômes.
(We believe in ghosts.)
- Vous croyez ce qu’il dit?
(Do you believe what he says?)
- Elles croient qu’il va pleuvoir.
(They believe it’s going to rain.)
In the Imperfect (Past Habitual or Continuous Action)
- Je croyais qu’il viendrait.
(I believed he would come.)
- Nous croyions toujours aux légendes.
(We always believed in legends.)
In the Subjunctive (Expressing Doubt or Uncertainty)
- Il est possible que tu croies à cette histoire.
(It’s possible that you believe this story.)
- Je doute qu’ils croient en moi.
(I doubt that they believe in me.)
In the Passé Composé (Completed Action in the Past)
- J’ai cru qu’elle était partie.
(I believed she had left.)
- Nous avons cru à son mensonge.
(We believed his lie.)
In the Pluperfect (Action Completed Before Another Past Action)
- Il avait cru que tu ne viendrais pas.
(He had believed that you wouldn’t come.)
- Ils avaient cru tout ce qu’il disait.
(They had believed everything he said.)
Key Expressions with "Croire"
- Croire en soi
(To believe in oneself)
- Faire croire
(To make someone believe)
- Ne pas en croire ses yeux
(To not believe one's eyes)
Conclusion
The verb "croire" is essential in French for conveying personal beliefs, opinions, and convictions. Its irregular conjugation and diverse applications make it a valuable tool in both everyday conversation and formal communication.