Page 614 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

4
think + object (+ to be) + complement
In a very formal style, think is sometimes followed by an object and an adjective or noun complement.
They thought her fascinating. We thought him a fool.
It can be used as a preparatory object (see 442) for an infinitive or clause.
I thought it better to pretend that I knew nothing.
We thought it important that she should go home.
To be is occasionally used before the complement (suggesting objective judgement rather than subjective impression), but this is very unusual.
They thought him to be a spy.
In more normal styles, that-clauses are preferred after think.
They thought that she was fascinating.
We thought that he was a fool.
However, the passive equivalent of the object + complement structure is reasonably common, usually with to be.
He was thought to be a spy.
transferred negation: I don't think . ..
When think is used to introduce a negative clause, we most often put not with think, rather than with the following clause (see 369).
I don't think it will rain. (More natural than I think it won't rain.)
Mary doesn't think she can come.
However, we can express surprise with I thought ... not.
Hello! I thought you weren't coming!
indirect speech
Think does not usually introduce indirect questions. I was wondering ifI could do anything to help.
(More natural than I was thinking if...) I thought ...
Note the use of stressed I thought . .. to suggest that the speaker was right. Compare:
It isn't very nice. - Oh, dear. I thought you'd UKE it. (But I was wrong.) It's beautiful!-Oh, I am glad. I mOUGHT you'd like it. (And I was right.)
I had thought . . _, I should think etc
Past perfect forms can suggest that the speaker was mistaken, especially when had is stressed.
I had thought that we were going to be invited to dinner.
I should think and I should have thought (also I would I I'd ...) can introduce guesses.
I should think we'll need at least twelve bottles ofwine.
I should (l would / I'd) have thought we could expect at least forty people. This structure can also introduce criticisms.
I should have thought he could have washed his hands, at least. For 1 (don·t) think so and 1 thought so, see 539.
5
6
7
8
think 588
page 582