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 | |
|---|---|
| ★ I | think |
| ★ you | think |
| ★ he/she/it | thinks |
| ★ we | think |
| ★ you (plural) | think |
| ★ they | think |
| 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 am | thinking |
| ★ you are | thinking |
| ★ he/she/it is | thinking |
| ★ we are | thinking |
| ★ you are | thinking |
| ★ they are | thinking |
| 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 have | thought |
| ★ you have | thought |
| ★ he/she/it has | thought |
| ★ we have | thought |
| ★ you have | thought |
| ★ they have | thought |
| 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 been | thinking |
| ★ you have been | thinking |
| ★ he/she/it has been | thinking |
| ★ we have been | thinking |
| ★ you have been | thinking |
| ★ they have been | thinking |
| 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 | |
|---|---|
| ★ I | thought |
| ★ you | thought |
| ★ he/she/it | thought |
| ★ we | thought |
| ★ you (plural) | thought |
| ★ they | thought |
| 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 was | thinking |
| ★ you were | thinking |
| ★ he/she/it was | thinking |
| ★ we were | thinking |
| ★ you were | thinking |
| ★ they were | thinking |
| 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 had | thought |
| ★ you had | thought |
| ★ he/she/it had | thought |
| ★ we had | thought |
| ★ you had | thought |
| ★ they had | thought |
| 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 been | thinking |
| ★ you had been | thinking |
| ★ he/she/it had been | thinking |
| ★ we had been | thinking |
| ★ you had been | thinking |
| ★ they had been | thinking |
| 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 will | think |
| ★ you will | think |
| ★ he/she/it will | think |
| ★ we will | think |
| ★ you will | think |
| ★ they will | think |
| 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 be | thinking |
| ★ you will be | thinking |
| ★ he/she/it will be | thinking |
| ★ we will be | thinking |
| ★ you will be | thinking |
| ★ they will be | thinking |
| 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 have | thought |
| ★ you will have | thought |
| ★ he/she/it will have | thought |
| ★ we will have | thought |
| ★ you will have | thought |
| ★ they will have | thought |
| 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 been | thinking |
| ★ you will have been | thinking |
| ★ he/she/it will have been | thinking |
| ★ we will have been | thinking |
| ★ you will have been | thinking |
| ★ they will have been | thinking |
| 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. |