Using indirect speech to report words and ideas

Common reporting verbs

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Reporting verbs and negation

Reporting verbs such as think and feel are often used to indicate the speaker or writer's judgement of likelihood - in the following cases, the likelihood of something not being the case:

I do not think that there is any logical connection between the two halves of the question. (Bank of English)

We do not feel that the situation has worsened in recent years.
(SCMP 22/9/92)

Note that in sentences like these, we negate the clause containing the reporting verb and not the clause following it.

Other reporting verbs behaving like think and feel in negative sentences include believe, expect, and suppose:

I don't believe it's going to be a repetition of past wars. (Bank of English)

I don't expect you to know that. (Bank of English)

I don't suppose anybody here understands what happened. (Bank of English)

For further information about verbs which are used to indicate likelihood, see Indicating likelihood: Using verbs to indicate likelihood.

Introduction
Using say
Using tell
Using speak
Using talk
Using other reporting verbs
Reporting verbs and negation