believed I would

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "believed I would" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing a past belief or expectation about a future event or outcome. Example: "At that moment, I truly believed I would succeed in my endeavors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I always believed I would come back".

The New York Times - Sports

But I never really believed I would.

The Guardian

I believed I would die without getting home.

The New York Times - Travel

"But I believed I would grow into it.

The New York Times

I really believed I would never come back to England.

The Guardian

I believed I would overcome even the deadliest of strains.

The Guardian

"I made an informed decision – I believed I would have a better life here.

Independent

I believed I would find happiness only once I was true to myself.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I believed I would be Olympic champion from the age of 14," she says.

Independent

When I was a bird, I believed I would be a man.

The New Yorker

I always believed I would get there in the end: it was about perseverance".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "believed I would" to express a past conviction or expectation about a future event. Ensure the context clearly indicates that the belief was held in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "believed I will" as it mixes past belief with future intention. Always pair "believed" with "would" to maintain the correct tense sequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "believed I would" typically functions as part of a clause expressing a past belief or expectation about a future event. It indicates a state of mind at a prior point in time, as evidenced by examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "believed I would" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a past belief regarding a future event. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use, particularly in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the tense is consistent, and the context clearly indicates that the belief was held in the past. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "thought I would" or "was confident I would", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was confident that I would

Uses "confident" to convey a strong belief, shifting the focus to certainty.

I had faith that I would

Replaces "believed" with "had faith", suggesting a sense of trust or conviction.

I anticipated that I would

Substitutes "believed" with "anticipated", indicating an expectation based on some evidence or reasoning.

I expected that I would

Uses "expected" to express a belief about what was likely to happen.

I had every reason to think I would

Indicates a belief based on logical reasoning or available evidence.

I was under the impression that I would

Conveys a belief that may or may not be accurate, emphasizing a subjective understanding.

I was of the opinion that I would

Expresses a personal belief or judgment about a future outcome.

I felt sure that I would

Uses "felt sure" to convey a strong, intuitive belief.

I envisioned that I would

Implies a belief based on mental imagery or a clear mental picture of the future.

I assumed that I would

Replaces "believed" with "assumed", suggesting a belief based on little or no evidence.

FAQs

How can I use "believed I would" in a sentence?

Use "believed I would" to express a past conviction regarding a future event. For example, "I "believed I would" pass the exam, but I didn't study enough."

What's a simple alternative to "believed I would"?

You can use phrases like "thought I would", which is a more informal and straightforward alternative.

Is there a stronger way to express "believed I would"?

Yes, you can use phrases such as "was certain I would" or "was convinced I would" to indicate a stronger sense of conviction.

When is it appropriate to use "believed I would" instead of "believe I will"?

"Believed I would" is used to express a belief held in the past, while "believe I will" expresses a current belief about something in the future. For example, "I "believed I would" succeed" (past), vs. "I believe I will succeed" (present belief about the future).