〜と思う

〜と思う is the most common way in Japanese to state an opinion or a guess: 雨が降ると思います (I think it will rain). The clause before と is always in plain form; with nouns and な-adjectives, remember to keep だ: 便利だと思います.

思う in the present tense is only used for the speaker's OWN thoughts. To talk about someone else's thoughts, or an intention you've been nurturing for a while, use 〜と思っています: 妹は日本で働きたいと思っています.

The negative usually goes in the clause, not on 思う: 来ないと思います (I think they won't come) is more natural than 来ると思いません. When you want to make a guess without stressing "this is my opinion," you can use だろう・でしょう instead.

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.

• 日本(にほん)の生活(せいかつ)は便利(べんり)だと思(おも)います。

  I think life in Japan is very convenient.

• 妹(いもうと)は日本(にほん)で働(はたら)きたいと思(おも)っています。

  My younger sister wants to work in Japan.

Related patterns

• 〜ようと思う
• 〜と言う
• 〜だろう
• 普通形