Believe in means to be sure that something exists, or to trust an idea or a person and their abilities. Believe without a preposition means to accept that someone's words are true: I believe your story. That is the main difference: believe him means to trust what he says, believe in him means to be sure he will succeed.
Want to use believe in in conversation?
Write a sentence — we'll show the mistakes right away and suggest how to say it more naturally.
The check is taking longer than usual. Your feedback will appear here automatically.
believe in + person/idea/-ing; believe + person (their words); believe (that) + clause
- My parents didn't believe in online degrees until my cousin found a great job with one.
- Before the final, the coach told us that he believed in every player on the team.
- I don't believe in luck; good exam results come from regular practice.
What changed
First versionIt's OK, I believe in you. I know you didn't take my charger.
RevisionIt's OK, I believe you. I know you didn't take my charger.
Here the speaker trusts what the other person says: that they didn't take the charger. For this you need believe without a preposition: I believe you. I believe in you means 'I'm sure you can do it'; it is about a person's abilities, not about whether they told the truth. The two phrases look so alike that in often slips in out of habit.
Believe in + -ing means to think something is right, to support it: I believe in paying interns for their work. Believe in ghosts means to think ghosts exist. To give an opinion, use believe that: I believe that the plan will work.
Your turn
She failed her driving test twice, but her instructor still ___ her and is sure she will pass next time.
Show the answer
believes in — The instructor is sure she will pass, so he trusts her abilities. That is believes in. Believes her would mean he trusts her words, but in the sentence she isn't claiming anything.
Write about someone who supported you at a difficult time. Say who it was and what they believed you could do.
When I failed my first university exam, my older sister believed in me and said I would pass the retake easily.
Learn to use new words without mistakes
Write phrases with the words you are learning. LetsWords shows mistakes in usage and grammar, suggests corrections and explains them, and review helps the words stick.