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A: Do you think
it’s ok to ride a motorcycle without a helmet?
B: I don’t think
so.
Most learners are familiar with
the expression “I don’t think so.” But do you know how these words really work?
Let’s study them deeper…
Don’t Repeat
“So” is used when we don’t want
to repeat something.
This means that, for example, if
your friend asks you:
Q: Do you think that Obama
is a good President?
Instead of repeating the whole
Noun Clause (“that Obama is a good president”), you can use “so.” This way:
Q: Do you think that
Obama is a good president?
A: Yes, I think that
Obama is a good President.= X
A: Yes, I think so. = Ok
This is because it is very
unnatural in English to repeat the same words. You would sound like a parrot:
Q: Do you think that
it’s going to rain?
As much as possible, native
speakers avoid using the same words by using “So,” Helping Verbs, and other
Vocabulary.
Ex.
Instead of repeating:
Q: Do you think that it’s
going to rain?
A: Yes, I think that
it’s going to rain. = X
You should say:
A: I think so. (=So)
A: I do. (=Helping Verb)
A: That’s the
forecast. (=other Vocabulary)
Agreeing and
Disagreeing
This is why “So” is very useful
and common in English. You will use it especially when you are agreeing or
disagreeing with someone.
For example, you can agree this
way:
A: I think she’s pretty.
B: I think so too. =Ok
Disagree:
A: I think the test
was very easy.
B: I don’t think so. =Ok
Agree:
A: I don’t think
we’re late.
B: I don’t think so either. =Ok
Or simply,
B: I don’t either.
=Ok
Note: If you want to know the
difference between “too” and “either,” kindly click the link below:
Other Expressions
Do you know that there are
expressions you can use other than “I think so” and “I don’t think so”?
Here are they are:
I expect so.
I suppose so.
I hope so.
I guess so.
I’m afraid so.
All these expressions are
necessary because we shouldn’t keep on using only “I think so.”
And sometimes, the situation
requires a sharper expression. In some cases, “I think so” might be too
general.
Take a look:
Q: Do you think it’s
going to be sunny tomorrow?
A: I expect so.
(= I already saw the
weather forecast)
A: I hope so.
(= Because we are
planning to go to the beach)
Q: Is she gonna join us?
A: I suppose so.
(= this is what I
believe)
A: I guess so.
(=I’m not so sure)
Q: Have we run out of
gas / petrol?
A: I’m afraid so.
(=I’m sorry to admit
it but it’s true)
As you can see from our examples,
it’s much better to practice many various expressions and not to be limited
with only one.
At the same time, the expressions
don’t really mean the same.
I Don’t
Hope So?
Do you remember the 2 meanings of
the word “afraid”?
(If you want a quick review, just
click this link:
If you are using the word
“afraid” with the meaning of scared or frightened, this is its negative form:
Positive
|
Negative
|
I am afraid of
ghosts.
|
I am not afraid of ghosts.
|
But be careful, we use “afraid”
differently when its meaning is “I’m sorry” or polite expression. Take a look:
Positive
|
Negative
|
I am afraid I
forgot your name.
|
(nothing)
|
Simply put, we can’t make the
Verb “afraid” (meaning: I’m sorry) negative. Instead, we change the Noun Clause
inside it:
I’m afraid I do not remember your name. =Ok
As you can see in our example,
the Noun Clause (that…) becomes negative but the Main Verb of the sentence (afraid)
can’t become negative.
Here are more examples:
I’m afraid I don’t have any money. =Ok
I’m afraid I can’t help you. =Ok
And the short version of both
sentences is:
I’m afraid not. (=Ok)
The same rule is true with “hope.”
I don’t hope that it will rain. = X
I hope it won’t rain. = Ok
Again, here is the short version:
I hope not. =Ok
So the negative form “I don’t
hope so” is wrong. Instead we use “I hope not.”
Lastly, you should follow the
same rule for “guess” :
I don’t guess so.
=X
I guess not. =Ok
Negative Forms
In summary, here are the negative
forms of all our expressions:
Positive
|
Negative
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I think so.
|
I don’t think so.
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I expect so.
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I don’t expect so.
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I suppose so.
|
I don’t suppose
so. (Or, I suppose not.)
|
I hope so.
|
I hope not.
|
I guess so.
|
I guess not.
|
I’m afraid so.
|
I’m afraid not.
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Hope You Learned
Something!
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