Got an opinion?
Or maybe a sneaking suspicion?
Well,
creo que is gonna be your
mejor amigo.
Or should that be
mejor amiga?
Editor's note: yeah… not sure chunks have genders, mate.
Anyway,
creo que is the chunk for the job! It works a bit like:
👉
I think… (yep, it's that simple!)
🧩 Useful patternsCreo que + statementCreo que tienes razón.I think you’re right.
Creo que dejé las llaves en el coche.I think I left my keys in the car.
And, yes, you
CAN also say
yo creo que. The
yo can add emphasis or highlight your own personal view when you're in a group situation and everyone is floating
(peloteando) their ideas around.
Here's an example from
Rubén the CDMX taxi driver (approx. 14:16); he's talking about police officers in Mexico:
Yo creo que son más buenos que malos.I personally think there are more good ones than bad ones.
Creo que sí / Creo que noCreo que sí. →
I think so.Creo que no. →
I don’t think so.
—¿Mañana abren?
—Creo que sí.—Are they open tomorrow?
—I think so.
Creo que sí / no + statementCreo que sí funciona.I think it DOES work.
Creo que no funciona.I don’t think it works.
Here's a good example of
creo que no + statement from
the chat Erika had with her cuñado Ricardo (approx. 35:21); he's talking about a woman making a sweeping comment about
extranjeros:
Yo creo que no es lo correcto, ¿no?I don’t think it’s OK, is it?
Creo que mejor…This one's
VERY handy when deciding what to do!
➡️
I think I’d better… / I think we’d better…
Creo que mejor me voy.I think I’d better go.
Creo que mejor lo dejamos para mañana.I think we’d better leave it until tomorrow.
Creo que no… / No creo que…These mean pretty much the same thing, but
no creo que normally needs the subjunctive:
Creo que no está. /
No creo que esté.I don’t think he's here.