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Liveinjapan Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

I don't think

Sticking to this proposal is not important, in my opinion.

Sticking to this proposal is, I don't think, important.

Does the second sentence sound odd to carry the same meaning of the first sentence because of the position of 'I don't think'?

Thanks
LiJ
  

Top answer

Liveinjapan Sticking to this proposal is not important, in my opinion. Sticking to this proposal is, I don't think, important. Does the second sentence sound odd to carry the same meaning of the first sentence because of the position of 'I don't think'?

— Hoa Thai

  • Liveinjapan Sticking to this proposal is not important, in my opinion.
  • Sticking to this proposal is, I don't think, important.
  • Does the second sentence sound odd to carry the same meaning of the first sentence because of the position of 'I don't think'?
  • Yes, in a sense that the flow of delivery is not as smooth as the first one.
  • 'I don't think ', in the middle of the sentence, presents a 'thinking out loud' image and forces the listerners / readers to digest extra exclamation before reaching the end.
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4 Answers
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LiveinjapanSticking to this proposal is not important, in my opinion.

Sticking to this proposal is, I don't think, important.

Does the second sentence sound odd to carry the same meaning of the first sentence because of the position of 'I don't think'?
Yes, in a sense that the flow of delivery is not as smooth as t
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Hi,

Sticking to this proposal is, I don't think, important.

A more natural, and perhaps more logical, place to place the negation is thus.

Sticking to this proposal is not, I think, important.

Or better yet, Sticking to this proposal is, I think, not important.

Best wishes, Clive
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I understand how to place these words. Thanks, Clive.
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