Talk about what you think is true and whose abilities you trust.

The idea

Use believe before a person, a thing or a clause. Use believe in for confidence in someone or support for an idea.

Examples

  • I believe the train leaves at nine.
  • Do you believe her story?
  • We believe you.
  • My teacher believes in me.
  • They believe in helping their neighbours.
  • I did not believe the news at first.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic English voice on your device. Quality and availability vary; it does not assess pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not add in when you mean that you accept what a person says: I believe you.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct answer. She ___ that the shop is open. (believe / believes)

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    believes

    believes agrees with the subject she.

  2. Choose the correct answer. I believe ___ your ability to finish. (in / to)

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    in

    in expresses confidence in an ability.

  3. Choose the correct answer. We did not ___ the answer at first. (believe / believed)

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    believe

    believe stays in its base form after did not.

Use it today

Describe something you believe and someone you believe in.