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Negative structures with think, hope, seem, etc

I don’t think …​

When we introduce negative ideas with think, believe, suppose, imagine and words with similar meanings, we usually make the first verb (think, etc) negative, not the second.

  • I don’t think you’ve met my wife. (More natural than I think you haven’t met my wife.)

  • I don’t believe she’s at home. (More natural than I believe she isn’t at home.)

However, surprise is often expressed with I thought + negative.

  • ‘Would you like a drink?’ ‘I thought you’d never ask.’
  • Hello! I thought you weren’t coming.

I hope that … not …​

This does not happen with hope.

  • I hope it doesn’t rain. (not I don’t hope it rains.)

Short answers: I suppose not​

In short answers, most of these verbs can be followed by not (see here).

  • ‘Are we going to see Luke again?’ ‘I believe/suppose/hope not.’

Another possible short answer construction is I don’t … so (see here).

  • ‘Do you think it’ll snow?’ ‘I don’t believe/suppose/think so.’

Hope is not used in this structure.

  • I hope not. (not I don’t hope so.)

I don’t think so is more common than I think not, which is rather formal.

Verbs followed by infinitives​

Many verbs can be followed by infinitives (see here). In an informal style we often prefer to make the first verb negative rather than the infinitive, although this may not change the meaning at all. This happens, for example, with appear, seem, expect, happen, intend and want.

  • Sibyl doesn’t seem to like you. (Less formal than Sibyl seems not to like you.)
  • I don’t expect to see you before Monday. (More natural than I expect not to see you …)
  • Angela and I were at the same university, but we never happened to meet. (Less formal than … we happened never to meet.)
  • I don’t want to fail this exam. (not I want not to fail …)
  • I never want to see you again. (More natural than I want never to see you again.)