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So and not with expect, hope, think, etc

We can use so after some verbs instead of repeating an object clause, especially in short answers. The verbs we do this with most are: appear, assume, be afraid (meaning ‘regret’), believe, expect, guess, hope, imagine, presume, reckon, seem, suppose, think:

  • Chris thinks the tickets are too expensive, and Madeline thinks so too.
  • (… and Madeline thinks the tickets are expensive.)
  • A: Are you working on Saturday?
  • B: I***’m*** afraid so. I wish I wasn’t! (I’m afraid I’m working.)
  • A: D’you think the weather’s going to be fine tomorrow?
  • B: I hope so. I want to do some work in the garden. (I hope the weather’s going to be fine.)

We can use not after be afraid, guess, hope and suppose instead of using a negative object clause:

  • A: Can we speak to Mr Brindley, please?
  • B: I***’m*** afraid not. He’s busy. (I’m afraid you cannot speak to Mr Brindley.)
  • A: It looks as if Louis won’t be coming with us after all.
  • B: I guess not. It’s a pity.
  • She thinks she might lose her job in the New Year, but she hopes not.

With believe, expect and think, we normally use auxiliary do + not + main verb + so:

  • A: Did Frances come here this morning?
  • B: I don’t believe so. Ask Hannah.
  • They asked Wilma if she thought her mother would refuse the invitation. She said she didn’t think so.

We can find believe not, expect not and think not in classic literature and in very formal situations, but it is not common in everyday modern English:

  • [from the novel Dombey and Son (1848) by Charles Dickens]
  • ‘He is in England, I hope, aunt?’ said the child.
  • ‘I believe so. Yes; I know he is, indeed.’
  • ‘Has he ever been here?’
  • ‘I believe not. No.’
  • Are we prepared to change our entire lives for the sake of one person? I think not.

Typical errors​

We don’t use so + object clause together:

  • A: Is George coming today?
  • B: I don’t think so.
  • Not: I don’t think so he’s coming today.

We don’t say I think or I don’t think without so in short answers:

  • A: Is next Monday a public holiday?
  • B: Yes, I think so.
  • Not: Yes, I think.