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Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 6

Structure of と思(おも)う:

Verb + (おも)(1)
[い]Adjective + (おも)(1)
[な]Adjective + + (おも)(1)
Noun + + (おも)(1)

(1) (おも)っている

Details about と思(おも)う:

To express that you 'think' something in Japanese, the common expression (おも) is regularly used. As you can probably guess, this is just a combination of the particle , plus the う-Verb (おも)う. とおもう can be used after any verb, い-Adjective, な-Adjective, or noun, but will require after a noun or な-Adjective.
  • ごめん、ちょっと(おく)(おも)
    Sorry, I think I'm going to be a little late.
  • その()(かた)(ひど)(おも)
    I think the way you said that was harsh.
  • (おれ)あの(ひと)綺麗(きれい)(おも)
    I think that person looks pretty.
  • これフランス()(おも)
    I think this is French.
Although this structure usually requires after nouns and な-Adjectives, it is often omitted in casual speech.
  • (わたし)日本(にほん)安全(あんぜん)(おも)
    I think Japan is safe. (Ungrammatical Japanese, but quite common)
と思(おも)う

Usage Notes for と思(おも)う:

If you want to express what somebody else is thinking, (おも)っている will be used. This is due to (おも) having a sense of 'permanence', and thus not something that the speaker could know about another person. (おも)っている can also be used to express your own thoughts when they are currently happening.
  • ジェームス自分(じぶん)(かしこ)(おも)っている
    James thinks he is smart.
  • 来年(らいねん)(あたら)オートバイ()たい(おも)っている
    I am thinking that I want to buy a new motorcycle next year.

Synonyms for と思(おも)う:

〜ようと思う・〜おうと思う
I think I will, I think I shall, Going to, Gonna (Volitional + と思う)

Example of と思(おも)う

明日(あした)映画(えいが)()()(おも)

I think I will go see a movie tomorrow.

このズボンいい(おも)います

I think these pants are good.

あの(みせ)()ったことがある(おも)

I think that I have been to that store before.

今日(きょう)(あめ)()(おも)った

I thought that it was going to rain today.

このスーツ(きみ)似合(にあ)(おも)

I think this suit looks good on you.

Grammar same lesson

より

More than, Over
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に (Frequency)

Times (In each time period), Every, Frequency of
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~る所(ところ)だ

About to, On the verge of
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毎(ごと)に

Each, Every, At intervals of
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そう

Look like, Appear, Seem, Have a feeling that
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