Representing thinking, perceiving, liking and desiring

Using verb patterns to represent thoughts and beliefs

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Ellipsis and substitution with thinking verbs

Ellipsis refers to the omission of words from a sentence. With ellipsis, it is usually clear from the context which word or words have been left out:

I did not intend my use of the word "gweilo" to be insulting or offensive. I'm sure you do understand [^]. (SCMP 15/10/92)

I'm sure you do understand [that I did not intend my use of the word "gweilo" to be insulting or offensive].

Note that ellipsis is possible with many, but not all, thinking verbs. For example, while it is possible to say I hope you understand [^], it is not possible to say I hope you grasp [^]. This is because a verb like understand is directly related to thinking, whereas a verb like grasp is being used figuratively, ie it is normally used to represent an action or event, rather than a thought. And while it is possible to say I know [^], it is not normally possible to say I think [^]. (With verbs such as think, a word such as so has to be substituted, eg I think so.)

With some thinking verbs, the omitted words can be a range of structures:

I can remember [^].

I can remember [that I was ill that day].
or
I can remember [Jenny].
or
I can remember [what happens next].
or
I can remember [asking him why].
or
I can remember [him replying that he wasn't sure].
or
I can remember [to water the plants most days].

Here is a list of common thinking verbs with which the omitted words can be a range of structures:

remember know expect forget decide realise guess see wonder imagine understand

For further information about ellipsis in general, see Developing cohesion: Ellipsis.

With certain verbs such as think, it is possible to substitute a that clause with so:

A:	Are you going away for the holidays?
B:	Yes, I think so.
I think [that we'll go away for the holidays].

Not is the negative equivalent of so. Like so, it occurs with verbs of thinking:

A:	I've got a man in Russia. They don't get many days off there.
B:	No, I suppose not." (Bank of English)
No, I suppose [that they don't get many days off there].

For further information about substitution with thinking verbs, including a list of verbs that are commonly followed by both so and not, see Developing cohesion: Substitution (p 5).

Introduction
Participants associated with thinking verbs
Grammatical patterns associated with thoughts
Verb followed by a that clause
Verb followed by a noun group
Verb followed by a wh-clause
Verb followed by an if/whether clause
Verb followed by the -ing form
Verb followed by an object and the -ing form
Verb followed by the to-infinitive
Verb followed by an object and the to-infinitive
Verb followed by the actual words thought
Ellipsis and substitution with thinking verbs
Present simple v present continuous tense
A note on the order of participants