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〜と思う

I think (that)

Plain form + と思う · Noun / な-adj + だと思う

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Plain form + と思う says what you think: 明日は晴れると思います, "I think it'll be sunny tomorrow". と marks the content of the thought, just as it marks a quote.

Nouns and な-adjectives need だ: 学生だと思う, 静かだと思う.

Japanese puts the negative inside the thought: 彼は来ないと思う ("I think he won't come"), where English says "I don't think he'll come". 来ると思わない exists but sounds like a strong denial.

と思っています describes an opinion held over time, or someone else's: 母は私が医者になると思っている.

と思います also softens opinions, so you'll hear it far more than English speakers say "I think".

Examples

  • 明日あしたは晴はれると思おもいます。

    I think it'll be sunny tomorrow.

  • 田中たなかさんは学生がくせいだと思おもいます。

    I think Mr Tanaka is a student.

  • この映画えいがは面白おもしろいと思おもう。

    I think this film's good.

  • 彼かれは来こないと思おもいます。

    I don't think he's coming.

  • 日本語にほんごはそんなに難むずかしくないと思おもいます。

    I don't think Japanese is all that hard.

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