could you help me with the verb believe?

Question

My 1st language isn't English, so I'd like some help with the verb believe. If you say you belive in something, the you have faith in it's existence right? So, I belive in God means you have faith in the existence of God. But if you say I belive God, then it means you trust God, you think God won't abandon you, right?

If you're talking with someone, you usually don't say I believe in you, right? . You say I belive you, which means I think what you say is true.But I belive you can also mean you belive that person will succeed, oK? For example , if you tell your son you believe him, then it may mean you belive he'll be a good man, a good father, etc.

Believe in may also mean you think something works. For example, I believe in technology may mean you believe technology will solve your problems.

Am I correct?

Thank you very much

there are some typos the spell checker didn't get. I always mean BELIEVE, not BELIVE

Answer 1

You are mostly correct. The only thing that is not accurate is when you say that you think someone will succeed you say I believe in you. That indicates that you have faith that they will do something.

The rest is correct.

Answer 2

Hi Eduardo,
Your English is certainly excellent,
and you should be very proud.

And your question is very valid
as a tiny difference can make
a change in the meaning.

When you say
I believe in God
you are stating that you
believe God exists,

When you say,
I believe God,
you are stating that you
believe what God is
telling, teaching, sharing
with you.

The same would apply
with your son.
I believe in my son
you are stating that you
consider your son to be
a good human being.

I believe my son
you are stating that
you believe something
your son said or did is
true.

I believe in my son. I know he will become a successful human being.

I believe my son. If he said he did not brake the window, I believe
he did not brake it.

And, yes, I believe in Technology, I believe it can help us.
I believe in Science, I believe it is helping us.
I believe in the Future, I believe things will get better.

Hope this helps a bit,
and I believe, I will not
type the word believe
for a few hours, as the
word believe is starting
to look funny now! Ha!
I will spell-check.

I believe in you Eduardo,
I believe you are a good father
and I know I will now say,
Have a wonderful weekend!

Answer 3

English isn't your first language? You seem to have a better grasp than a lot of native English speakers. The only thing I can see is that if you tell your son you believe him, it means you think what he said is true. If you believe in him, that means you think he'll be a good man.

To believe usually means to trust - in a true or false sense.

To believe in is more about whether something exists or possesses certain qualities.

Answer 4

You can not say I believe God as God is not a person like you and me. It's more appropriate to say I believe in God.

By saying I believe you, you mean that what you say is probably right. But it doesn't mean you believe that person will succeed. That's an assumption. If somebody tells you I'm going to succeed ,by replying I believe you means you are agreeing with that person the possibility of success. If you tell your son you believe him , it should be in reference to any of his statements, that he'll be a good man, a good father,etc.

I think what it boils down to is you're confusing your beliefs in God which is factual or presumed truths to suppositions in daily conversations. This is clearly evident in your next statement here. For example I believe in technology may mean you believe technology will solve your problems. You should say I believe technology will solve my problems. You don't say I believe in technology.

In conclusion say I believe in God. I believe in His existence. But say I believe you to somebody. Or I believe technology. I believe modifying my diet will make me lose weight. I believe exercise is beneficial. Not, I believe in exercise. I hope you understood me. I believe you'll succeed in improving your language skills.

Answer 5

Believe simply means to accept as true or real; to trust; to have faith, especially in God; to think.

Answer 6

To believe means to accept something as true without proof. People do it with religion and call it blind faith. Believing in someone means you trust him implicitly. I prefer knowing to believing.

Answer 7

Hey I think you are, but I haven't been around the block too many times, so i don't know. I think that's why the United States In God we Trust.

Answer 8

From an English teacher I believe you have researched the word carefully and very fully.Congrats!