Irregular verbs  Regular verbs

think, thinks, thinking, thought
Synonyms: believe, consider, ponder, contemplate, reason

Antonyms: act, disregard, ignore, forget, doubt

The Verb Think – Definition, Usage, and Clarification


The verb think is a very common irregular verb. Its primary meaning is to have a particular opinion, belief, or idea, or to use your mind to consider something.


VERB FORMS


■ Base Form: think
■ Past Simple: thought
■ Past Participle: thought
■ Present Participle/Gerund: thinking


USAGE AND CONTEXT


'Think' is a fundamental verb for expressing mental activity, opinions, and intentions.


1. Having an Opinion or Belief
This is one of its most frequent uses.


■ Opinion: 'What do you think about the new plan?'
■ Belief: 'I think, therefore I am.' (Famous quote by Descartes).


2. Using Your Mind to Consider
This refers to the process of deliberation or reflection.


■ Consideration: 'I need some time to think before I make a decision.'
■ Problem-solving: 'She is thinking about how to solve the problem.'


3. Intending or Planning
The continuous form is often used to express a plan.


■ Intention: 'I'm thinking of going to the cinema tonight.'


ℹ IMPORTANT: 'THINK OF' VS. 'THINK ABOUT'


These two phrases are similar but can have subtle differences.


■ Think of: Often used for generating an idea or recalling a memory. It can be a brief mental action.
■ Example: 'I just thought of a great idea.' / 'When I hear that song, I think of my childhood.'


■ Think about: Often implies a longer period of consideration or contemplation.
■ Example: 'I need to think about your job offer.'


■ 'Thought' as a Noun: 'Thought' is also the noun for an idea or the process of thinking.
■ Example: 'Let me know your thoughts on the matter.'



THINK - PRESENT SIMPLE
★ Ithink
★ youthink
★ he/she/itthinks
★ wethink
★ you (plural)think
★ theythink
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Present Simple
- I think about the future a lot.
- You think very logically.
- He thinks before he speaks. | She thinks of a new idea.
- We think it's a great opportunity.
- You (plural) think about your families back home.
- They think they know all the answers.
THINK - PRESENT CONTINUOUS
★ I amthinking
★ you arethinking
★ he/she/it isthinking
★ we arethinking
★ you arethinking
★ they arethinking
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Present Continuous
- I am thinking about what you said.
- You are thinking of changing your job.
- He is thinking of a plan. | She is thinking about her next move.
- We are thinking about going on vacation.
- You (plural) are thinking along the same lines.
- They are thinking about the consequences of their actions.
THINK - PRESENT PERFECT
★ I havethought
★ you havethought
★ he/she/it hasthought
★ we havethought
★ you havethought
★ they havethought
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Present Perfect
- I have thought about this all day, and I've made a decision.
- You have thought of everything; the plan is perfect.
- He has thought of a solution to the problem. | She has never thought about it that way before.
- We have thought long and hard about this offer.
- You (plural) have thought this through, right?
- They have thought of a name for their new company.
THINK - PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
★ I have beenthinking
★ you have beenthinking
★ he/she/it has beenthinking
★ we have beenthinking
★ you have beenthinking
★ they have beenthinking
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Present Perfect Continuous
- I have been thinking about you all day.
- You have been thinking about this problem for too long.
- He has been thinking of starting his own business. | She has been thinking about the past.
- We have been thinking about redecorating the house.
- You (plural) have been thinking about the same issue.
- They have been thinking about moving to a new city.
THINK - PAST SIMPLE
★ Ithought
★ youthought
★ he/she/itthought
★ wethought
★ you (plural)thought
★ theythought
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Past Simple
- I thought you were coming to the party yesterday.
- You thought I was someone else.
- He thought about his decision for a long time. | She thought it was a good idea at the time.
- We thought the movie was excellent.
- You (plural) thought the test was very difficult.
- They thought they had more time.
THINK - PAST CONTINUOUS
★ I wasthinking
★ you werethinking
★ he/she/it wasthinking
★ we werethinking
★ you werethinking
★ they werethinking
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Past Continuous
- I was thinking about my grandmother when you called.
- You were thinking out loud.
- He was thinking about his next move in the chess game. | She was thinking about what to make for dinner.
- We were thinking of you during our trip.
- You (plural) were thinking about the old days.
- They were thinking about how to solve the puzzle.
THINK - PAST PERFECT
★ I hadthought
★ you hadthought
★ he/she/it hadthought
★ we hadthought
★ you hadthought
★ they hadthought
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Past Perfect
- I had thought about all the possibilities before I made my choice.
- You had thought of that argument before, hadn't you?
- He had thought the project would be easy. | She had never thought she would win the lottery.
- We had thought they were our friends.
- You (plural) had thought the meeting was cancelled.
- They had thought the train had already left.
THINK - PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
★ I had beenthinking
★ you had beenthinking
★ he/she/it had beenthinking
★ we had beenthinking
★ you had beenthinking
★ they had beenthinking
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Past Perfect Continuous
- I had been thinking about changing careers for a while before I did it.
- You had been thinking about her all night.
- He had been thinking of a way to apologize. | She had been thinking about her future.
- We had been thinking about the problem for days.
- You (plural) had been thinking of the same solution.
- They had been thinking about their next vacation.
THINK - FUTURE SIMPLE
★ I willthink
★ you willthink
★ he/she/it willthink
★ we willthink
★ you willthink
★ they willthink
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Future Simple
- I will think about your proposal and give you an answer tomorrow.
- You will think of something, I'm sure.
- He will think I'm crazy if I tell him this. | She will think of a good excuse.
- We will think of a solution together.
- You (plural) will think about the offer.
- They will think of a plan.
THINK - FUTURE CONTINUOUS
★ I will bethinking
★ you will bethinking
★ he/she/it will bethinking
★ we will bethinking
★ you will bethinking
★ they will bethinking
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Future Continuous
- I will be thinking of you during my trip.
- You will be thinking about your presentation all night.
- He will be thinking of a new strategy. | She will be thinking about her options.
- We will be thinking about the next steps.
- You (plural) will be thinking about how to improve.
- They will be thinking of ways to help.
THINK - FUTURE PERFECT
★ I will havethought
★ you will havethought
★ he/she/it will havethought
★ we will havethought
★ you will havethought
★ they will havethought
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Future Perfect
- I will have thought of a good idea by the time the meeting starts.
- You will have thought of every detail.
- He will have thought about the consequences. | She will have thought of a name for the baby.
- We will have thought of a plan by then.
- You (plural) will have thought about all the angles.
- They will have thought of an answer.
THINK - FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
★ I will have beenthinking
★ you will have beenthinking
★ he/she/it will have beenthinking
★ we will have beenthinking
★ you will have beenthinking
★ they will have beenthinking
Examples of the verb 'think' in the Future Perfect Continuous
- By the end of the day, I will have been thinking about this problem for hours.
- You will have been thinking about this for a long time.
- He will have been thinking about his speech. | She will have been thinking of you.
- We will have been thinking about this project.
- You (plural) will have been thinking about the solution.
- They will have been thinking of their next move.

Conjugation of the verb To Think