ISORI

〜と思(おも)う

JLPT N5:

think that

Gives your opinion or a guess: "I think that…".

How to form it

  • Put the plain form before と思(おも)う: 雨(あめ)が降(ふ)ると思(おも)います (I think it will rain).
  • After a noun or な-adjective, add だ: 学生(がくせい)だと思(おも)う, 静(しず)かだと思(おも)う.
  • Politeness goes only at the end: と思(おも)います.
  • For "I don't think", Japanese usually makes the part before と negative: 来(こ)ないと思(おも)う (I don't think they'll come).

Examples

明日(あした)は雨(あめ)が降(ふ)ると思(おも)います。

I think it will rain tomorrow.

この映画(えいが)は面白(おもしろ)いと思(おも)います。

I think this movie is good.

Notes

  • と思(おも)っている describes an opinion held over time, and is used for other people's thoughts: 彼(かれ)は無理(むり)だと思(おも)っている (he thinks it's impossible).

Common mistakes

  • Putting です or ます before と思(おも)う. Say 高(たか)いと思(おも)います, not 高(たか)いですと思(おも)います.
  • Leaving out だ after a noun. Say 学生(がくせい)だと思(おも)う.

Same form, different meaning