Location of 'I think'

Question

When we use 'I think' in the middle like Tom, I think, did it, Tom likes, I think, to do it, etc, is there a meaning difference, depending on the location of 'I think'?And I have learned that when we use' you know' at the front, in the middle and at the end, there is a difference in meaning like You know, I do not like it and I do not like it, you know, etc.And then when we use 'I think' like 'I think, Tom did it' is there a meaning difference from i think that Tom did it?Thank you so much as usual in advance.

Clive · Accepted Answer

You know, I do not like it.
I do not like it, you know.

What meaning difference have you learned about these sentences?

Hans51 · Answer

Here is what I got from teachers here and could you tell me if it is okay to write sentences like I think, I do not like when we put a pause after 'I think'? What difference is there with a comma or not, you think? And when 'I think' is in the middle, what difference and when people say it like that?

Tom, I think, knows it.

I think that Tom knows it.

Thank you so much!

Clive · Answer

Here are some comments about I think.

I think is commonly used to show that you are expressing an opinion instead of stating a fact.
eg It is raining. States a fact.
eg I think it is raining Suggests you are not sure.
eg I think you are wrong. The speaker may be structuring it a an opinion in order to sound more polite.
Note that I think is not followed by a comma when placed at the front. This is because it is not intended to be parenthetical. It an important part of the sentence.

Now consider these examples.
eg It is raining, I think. Here, the phrase seems less important. It just seems like an afterthought.The comma separates it from the rest of the sentence.
eg It is, I think, raining. Again, the phrase seems less important. The two commas separate it from the rest of the sentence, making it seem parenthetical.

Clive

Hans51 · Answer

Thank you so much and then can we say that there is no meaning difference between 'I think it is raining' and 'It is raining, I think' and 'It is, I think, raining'? What do you think?

Fivejedjon · Answer

Read Clive's post again. He explains the differences.

Location of 'I think'

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