grammar think not - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Eugeni · 07-05-2004, 12:36 PM

Hi all,

I am not a native speaker of english and don't get exactly what's the meaning of 'not' at the end of a sentence like in 'I think not'.

I don't know if it's like saying 'I don't think' or if it's 'I don't think so'. By the way: Is it correct to say 'I think not'?

You can also say 'She loves me not', can't you?

Can you basically negate everything by writing 'not' at the end?

I am a bit confused on this one.

Thanks!

the_marq · 07-05-2004, 12:52 PM

I think you understand just fine. In the phrase "I think not" the speaker is just saying "I do not think that is so."

However, I would not start placing "not" at the end of sentances to negate them, that would sound silly. The other phrase you mentioned "She loves me not" is more poetic and not really something people use in everyday speech.

Phage · 07-05-2004, 02:21 PM

As the_marq pointed out, "She loves me not" really only works in the context of the famous phrase pair:
"She loves me, she loves me not."

The phrase "I think not." is almost always referring to a previous question, rather than saying "I do not think." For instance, given the question "Is the pizza shop down on the corner open past 12:00PM?" an acceptable answer would be "I think so" or "I think not." These basically shortens the longer answers of "I think it is so," and "I think it is not so."

As you have probably noticed these are older forms of speech and in everyday life you are much more likely to hear "Yep" or "Nope". This particular phrase is usually only used now to give emphasis or flavor to a negative response. Suppose a street beggar propositioned a woman for sex; the response of "I think not," would be taken as more than simply declining the invitation, but as an emphatic and disdainful rejection along the lines of "My sources say no."

shakran · 07-05-2004, 02:30 PM

well actually, it depends entirely on the context.

"Halx says tomatoes are vegetables, but I think not" would mean "I do not think that is so."

however, "I think not" used by itself would mean "I do not think" - that's a much older useage of language, though - along the same vein as "touch it not!" instead of "do not touch that!"

07-05-2004, 12:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Eugeni Crazy Location: everywhere else	grammar think not Hi all, I am not a native speaker of english and don't get exactly what's the meaning of 'not' at the end of a sentence like in 'I think not'. I don't know if it's like saying 'I don't think' or if it's 'I don't think so'. By the way: Is it correct to say 'I think not'? You can also say 'She loves me not', can't you? Can you basically negate everything by writing 'not' at the end? I am a bit confused on this one. Thanks!

07-05-2004, 12:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
the_marq All hail the Mountain King Location: Black Mesa	I think you understand just fine. In the phrase "I think not" the speaker is just saying "I do not think that is so." However, I would not start placing "not" at the end of sentances to negate them, that would sound silly. The other phrase you mentioned "She loves me not" is more poetic and not really something people use in everyday speech. __________________ The Truth: Johnny Cash could have kicked Bruce Lee's ass if he wanted to. #3 in a series

07-05-2004, 02:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Phage Insane	As the_marq pointed out, "She loves me not" really only works in the context of the famous phrase pair: "She loves me, she loves me not." The phrase "I think not." is almost always referring to a previous question, rather than saying "I do not think." For instance, given the question "Is the pizza shop down on the corner open past 12:00PM?" an acceptable answer would be "I think so" or "I think not." These basically shortens the longer answers of "I think it is so," and "I think it is not so." As you have probably noticed these are older forms of speech and in everyday life you are much more likely to hear "Yep" or "Nope". This particular phrase is usually only used now to give emphasis or flavor to a negative response. Suppose a street beggar propositioned a woman for sex; the response of "I think not," would be taken as more than simply declining the invitation, but as an emphatic and disdainful rejection along the lines of "My sources say no."

07-05-2004, 02:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	well actually, it depends entirely on the context. "Halx says tomatoes are vegetables, but I think not" would mean "I do not think that is so." however, "I think not" used by itself would mean "I do not think" - that's a much older useage of language, though - along the same vein as "touch it not!" instead of "do not touch that!"