• BenVimes@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    9 months ago

    When I was learning French I was told penser and croire were interchangeable in this context.

    • Tetsuo@jlai.lu
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      9 months ago

      The issue here is more the fact that “Je croirais” doesn’t exist.

      It’s close to “Je croirai” which is simple futur (Futur simple).

      So what you said is closer to "I will believe ".

      The past tense that would work here would be :

      “Je croyais que” (Imparfait).

      But yeah you could say “Je croyais que” or “Je pensais que” both would be fine.

      • Zagorath@aussie.zone
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        9 months ago

        the fact that “Je croirais” doesn’t exist

        Okay this I’m very confident is incorrect. I’m very open to the idea that it might not be correct to use in the way I used it here, but it definitely exists. It’s the conditional tense, first person singular conjugation of croire.

        • Tetsuo@jlai.lu
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          9 months ago

          Yes, it’s a complete fail on my part.

          I wanted to verify how to conjugate this verb and ended up on a classic website “Le conjugueur”.

          But you can’t use that website anymore without accepting cookies. So I went to the “Le monde” conjugueur but it just didn’t show conditional present.

          That being said I knew and used many times “je croirais” so I don’t know what went through my mind :(

      • Evkob@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        9 months ago

        You’re mistaken, “je croirais” exists, it’s the “conditionnel présent” (conditionnal present).

        Example sentence: “Je te croirais si t’avais des preuves.” (Translation: “I would believe you if you had proof”).