Commonly Confused:  believe in, believe (that)

 

Which group of words - believe in or believe that - fits into the blank below?

 I __________ God helps people who help themselves.


Here we continue with our unit on prepositions and two-word verbs.

The verb believe and the two-word verb believe in have different meanings.

This will help you with your reading comprehension and with your writing.

BELIEVE

The verb (to) believe is an intransitive verb and a transitive verb. Click here for a definition.  As a transitive verb, it takes an object.  In a sentence, it is followed by the direct object.  The direct object may be a noun or a pronoun, as in the following sentences:

  • I believe him.

  • I believe Michelle.

The direct object may also be a dependent clause:

  • I believe that God helps people who help themselves.

  • I believe that miracles occur.

  • Do you believe that you will do better on a test if you pray before the test?

BELIEVE IN

The two-word verb believe in is a transitive verb. (Click here for a definition of transitive verb).  It is followed by either a noun or a pronoun.

  • Do you believe in miracles?

  • I believe in God.

  • Adam Cooper, the main character in the book April Morning, by Howard Fast, said "At fifteen you can still manufacture a fantasy and believe in it for a few moments."

think about, think (that)

 

  Pre-test: Write either think about or think that in each blanks, as required:

1.   I _______ there is nothing wrong with praying before a test.

2.  I  _______ my work all the time.

3.  I ________ how I am going to do on my test.

Next.... Prepositions and Modals

 

Click here to continue with Prepositions and Modals.

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