Expresses the speaker's thoughts, opinions, or beliefs. Plain form + と思う. For third-person thoughts, use と思っている.
[Plain form] + と思う / と思います
彼は来ないと思います。
Kare wa konai to omoimasu.
I think he won't come.
来ない (plain neg) + と思います
難しいと思っていたが、意外と簡単だった。
Muzukashii to omotte ita ga, igai to kantan datta.
I thought it was difficult, but it was unexpectedly easy.
思っていた = was thinking (ongoing past)
この店のラーメンは日本で一番おいしいと思う。
Kono mise no raamen wa Nihon de ichiban oishii to omou.
I think this shop's ramen is the best in Japan.
おいしい (plain form) + と思う = speaker's opinion
• Key Concept: と思う = my current opinion. • Detail: と思っている = ongoing thought/belief. • Detail: 〜と思われる = seems (impersonal/formal). • Volitional + と思う = I think I'll: 行こうと思います (I think I'll go).
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones と思う is tested against.
Dictionary-form + と思う states a belief/opinion (来ると思う = I think he'll come). Volitional + と思う states the speaker's own intention (来ようと思う = I'm thinking of coming).
と思う explicitly frames it as the speaker's personal opinion; でしょう states a probable inference more objectively without foregrounding 'I think'.
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