Introduction
In this blog, we will learn how to use the short form of verbs with と思います (to omoimasu) to express what you think in Japanese.
What It Means
To describe what you think, you use the short form of a verb plus と思います (to omoimasu), which means “I think that…”. The particle と (to) is a quotation particle that functions like the English word “that” in indirect quotations and like quotation marks (” “) in direct quotations.
When You Use It
Use this structure when you want to express your thoughts or beliefs about something.
Examples
（私は）りくさんはマリアさんが好きだと思います。 (Watashi wa Riku-san wa Maria-san ga suki da to omoimasu.) – I think Riku likes Maria.
To say you don’t think something is the case, it’s more common in Japanese to use -ないと思います (nai to omoimasu) rather than -と思いません (to omoimasen). Therefore:
（私は）マリアさんはりくさんが好きじゃないと思います。 (Watashi wa Maria-san wa Riku-san ga suki ja nai to omoimasu.) – I don’t think Maria likes Riku. (= I think Maria doesn’t like Riku.)
Note
In Japanese, expressing what you don’t think is often done by saying “I think [negative statement]” rather than “I don’t think [positive statement].”
Conclusion
Using the short form of verbs with と思います (to omoimasu) is a useful way to express your thoughts and beliefs in Japanese. This structure helps you communicate your opinions clearly and naturally.
