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Taka Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Simple question

A simple question from a student of mine:
When you want to combine "I think" with "he cannot do it", usually it goes like "I don't think he can do it"--not like "I think he cannot do it". Then, what about "I think" + "he shouldn't do it"? The same pattern, like "I don't think he should do it"?


I said to her "Yes, that's right", but still I need your confirmation on this one, teachers.
  

Top answer

) So it is not a matter of the modal, or of any particular verb in the subordinate clause, but a matter of the verb in the main clause. The meanings are for all practical purposes equivalent between "I don't think he can do it" and "I think he cannot do it".

— Mister Micawber

  • ) So it is not a matter of the modal, or of any particular verb in the subordinate clause, but a matter of the verb in the main clause.
  • The meanings are for all practical purposes equivalent between "I don't think he can do it" and "I think he cannot do it".
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16 Answers
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This is called 'transferred negation', Taka, and is common with verbs of opinion (think, believe, appear, seem, expect, etc.) So it is not a matter of the modal, or of any particular verb in the subordinate clause, but a matter of the verb in the main clause.

The meanings are for all practical purposes equivalent between "I don't think he can do it" and "I think he cannot do it".
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Forget my comments below, MM. Now I understand what you mean.
MM, could you please paraphrase this part of your comments? I don't think I really understand it:
The meanings are for all practical purposes equivalent between "I don't think he can do it" and "I think he cannot do it".


So, when you say "equivalent", do you mean t
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The meanings are the same.
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Oops! Time lag.

So could you answer my question about your word "equivalent"?
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I think I did with my last post, but 'yes', Taka. The negation is simply transferred to the main verb. There is no change in the meaning, and both are acceptable; it is just that transferring the negation is very common, and so might be considered more 'natural'.
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I see.

By the way,
This is called 'transferred negation', Taka, and is common with verbs of opinion (think, believe, appear, seem, expect, etc.) So it is not a matter of the modal, or of any particular verb in the subordinate clause, but a matter of the verb in the main clause.


Yes, I know that. And I said almost the same thing to her. But she se
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Taka,

If you need more confirmation, I'll throw mine in as well!

In the cases where "not" can be raised to the main verb, it is more idiomatic to do so, in my opinion.

"I don't want you to get confused" is more idiomatic than "I want you not to get confused".
"He doesn't think we should offer such a large sum for the car" is more idiomatic than "He thinks we sho
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A simple question from a student of mine:

When you want to combine "I think" with "he cannot do it", usually it goes like "I don't think he can do it"--not like "I think he cannot do it". Then, what about "I think" + "he shouldn't do it"? The same pattern, like "I don't think he should do it"?


I said to her "Yes, that's right", but still I need your confirmation on thi
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"I think + negative or positive" is used as a response to negate or strengthen a prior statement.

1) I don't think he can do it. VS I think he can't do it.

2) I don't think he should do it. VS I think he shouldn't do it.

I suggest that the second ones in each sentence are much stronger and they do not represent the normal neutral fashion as represente
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Hmm... your argument is interesting!

How about the case like: "They had better not go to the party"?
Do you say "I don't think they had better go to the party"?
If not, why don't you raise "not" in this case?

paco
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