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10.5. Croire, recevoir et les propositions subordonnées

The Verbs Croire and Recevoir; Subordinate Clauses

10.5.1. The Main Idea

The verbs croire and recevoir are useful when talking about opinions, beliefs, holidays, gifts, invitations, and messages.

croire	to believe / to think
recevoir	to receive

You can also use que to connect two ideas.

Je crois que c’est important.	I think that it is important.
Je crois qu’il va venir.	I think that he is going to come.
Je reçois un cadeau.	I receive a gift.
Je reçois une invitation.	I receive an invitation.

10.5.2. The Verb Croire

je crois	I believe / I think
tu crois	you believe / you think
il croit	he believes / he thinks
elle croit	she believes / she thinks
nous croyons	we believe / we think
vous croyez	you believe / you think
ils croient	they believe / they think
elles croient	they believe / they think

10.5.3. Examples with Croire

Je crois que c’est vrai.	I think that it is true.
Tu crois que c’est important ?	Do you think that it is important?
Il croit que le film est intéressant.	He thinks that the movie is interesting.
Elle croit que la fête est demain.	She thinks that the party is tomorrow.
Nous croyons que c’est une bonne idée.	We think that it is a good idea.
Vous croyez que le restaurant est ouvert ?	Do you think that the restaurant is open?
Ils croient que c’était amusant.	They think that it was fun.

10.5.4. The Verb Recevoir

je reçois	I receive
tu reçois	you receive
il reçoit	he receives
elle reçoit	she receives
nous recevons	we receive
vous recevez	you receive
ils reçoivent	they receive
elles reçoivent	they receive

Notice the spelling changes:

reçois	I receive / you receive
reçoit	he / she receives
recevons	we receive
recevez	you receive
reçoivent	they receive

10.5.5. Examples with Recevoir

Je reçois un cadeau.	I receive a gift.
Tu reçois une carte ?	Do you receive a card?
Il reçoit une invitation.	He receives an invitation.
Elle reçoit un message.	She receives a message.
Nous recevons des cadeaux.	We receive gifts.
Vous recevez des invités.	You receive guests.
Ils reçoivent beaucoup de cartes.	They receive a lot of cards.

10.5.6. Subordinate Clauses with Que

A subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that depends on another idea.

Je crois que c’est important.	I think that it is important.
Elle dit que la fête est demain.	She says that the party is tomorrow.
Nous pensons que c’est une bonne idée.	We think that it is a good idea.

The word que connects the two ideas.

main idea + que + second idea	full sentence
Je crois	que c’est important.
Elle dit	que la fête est demain.
Nous pensons	que c’est une bonne idée.

10.5.7. Que Becomes Qu’

Before a vowel sound, que becomes qu’.

Je crois qu’il est gentil.	I think that he is kind.
Je crois qu’elle va venir.	I think that she is going to come.
Elle dit qu’il est fatigué.	She says that he is tired.
Nous pensons qu’on peut y aller.	We think that we can go there.

10.5.8. Common Verbs Before Que

croire que	to believe that / to think that
penser que	to think that
dire que	to say that
savoir que	to know that
voir que	to see that
comprendre que	to understand that

10.5.9. Negative Sentences

Place ne… pas around the conjugated verb.

Je ne crois pas que c’est vrai.	I do not think that it is true.
Tu ne reçois pas de cadeau ?	You do not receive a gift?
Il ne croit pas que c’est important.	He does not think that it is important.
Elle ne reçoit pas d’invitation.	She does not receive an invitation.
Nous ne recevons pas de message.	We do not receive a message.

At this beginner level, keep the structure simple with je ne crois pas que + sentence.

10.5.10. Questions

Tu crois que c’est vrai ?	Do you think that it is true?
Vous croyez que c’est une bonne idée ?	Do you think that it is a good idea?
Tu reçois un cadeau ?	Are you receiving a gift?
Vous recevez des invités ?	Are you receiving guests?
Elle reçoit une invitation ?	Is she receiving an invitation?

10.5.11. Core Patterns

croire que + sentence	to think / believe that ___
Je crois que ___ .	I think that ___.
Tu crois que ___ ?	Do you think that ___?
que + vowel sound	qu’
recevoir + noun	to receive ___
Je reçois ___ .	I receive ___.
Nous recevons ___ .	We receive ___.
Ils reçoivent ___ .	They receive ___.

10.5.12. Practice

I think that it is important. |

Do you think that it is true? informal |

He thinks that the party is tomorrow. |

I think that he is kind. |

I receive a gift. |

She receives an invitation. |

We receive cards. |

They receive guests. |

I do not receive a message. |

10.5.13. Answers

I think that it is important.	Je crois que c’est important.
Do you think that it is true? informal	Tu crois que c’est vrai ?
He thinks that the party is tomorrow.	Il croit que la fête est demain.
I think that he is kind.	Je crois qu’il est gentil.
I receive a gift.	Je reçois un cadeau.
She receives an invitation.	Elle reçoit une invitation.
We receive cards.	Nous recevons des cartes.
They receive guests.	Ils reçoivent des invités.
I do not receive a message.	Je ne reçois pas de message.

10.5.14. Short Dialogue

A : Tu crois que la fête est ce soir ?	A: Do you think that the party is tonight?
B : Oui, je crois que la fête est ce soir. Tu reçois une invitation ?	B: Yes, I think that the party is tonight. Are you receiving an invitation?
A : Oui, je reçois une invitation et une carte.	A: Yes, I receive an invitation and a card.
B : Très bien !	B: Very good!

10.5.15. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to use croire to say what someone thinks or believes, use recevoir to talk about receiving gifts, cards, messages, or invitations, and connect two ideas with que or qu’ in simple subordinate clauses.

10.5.16. Try It Out

Try saying this in French:

Do you think it is important?

I think it is true.

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Possible answer:

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