i thought him

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'I thought him' is not correct as it is written.
To use this sentence correctly in written English, it should be rewritten as 'I thought of him', 'I thought about him', or 'I thought to him'. For example: I was walking home and suddenly thought about him and the fun we had together.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

I thought him a decent man".

Independent

As a child, I thought him invincible.

The Guardian - Books

I thought him a dull mediocrity.

The New Yorker

"I thought him to death," Russell replies.

The Guardian - Film

"I thought him leaving the stage was very telling.

The New York Times

"I thought him just taking his time and finding his shot put a lot of pressure on the defense".

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

I think him being him is very, very important".

The New York Times

I have no other but a woman's reasons; / I think him so because I think him so".

The Guardian - Books

"I think him and Lee Tomlin are looking a partnership, they were a threat all day.

BBC

I think him, Luke Jones and Chris Day were probably my three outstanding performers of the afternoon.

BBC

I think him and Christina are eye-f***ing.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you intend to express an opinion or judgment, consider using phrases like "I considered him to be" or "I regarded him as" followed by the attribute or role. For example, "I considered him to be a valuable asset to the team".

Common error

Avoid using "think" directly followed by a pronoun without a preposition like "of" or "about". "Think" in this context usually requires a preposition to correctly link to the object of thought. Instead of saying "I think him intelligent", say "I think of him as intelligent" or "I think he is intelligent".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i thought him" attempts to express a past mental process related to an individual. However, it's grammatically incorrect in standard English. As noted by Ludwig AI, the verb "think" requires a preposition (of, about) in this context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

29%

Wiki

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "i thought him" appears in various sources, it's considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI states, the correct usage requires a preposition, such as "I thought of him" or "I thought about him". Despite its common appearance, particularly in news and media, it is best to use the grammatically correct alternatives in both formal and informal writing to ensure clarity and professionalism. Remember to use alternatives like "I considered him" or "I regarded him as" for more precise expressions of opinions or assessments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i thought of him

Corrects the grammar by adding the preposition "of" for proper verb construction.

i thought about him

Uses "about" to indicate contemplation or consideration regarding the person.

i considered him

Replaces "thought" with "considered" to convey a more formal assessment.

i regarded him as

Emphasizes the manner or role in which the person was viewed.

i viewed him as

Similar to "regarded", but focuses on personal perception.

i believed him to be

Indicates a belief about the person's character or qualities.

i deemed him

A more formal way of saying "I considered him" suitable for professional context.

in my opinion of him

Adds a layer of personal perspective while conveying the same basic idea.

it was my thought about him

Restructures the sentence to focus on the thought itself.

i had the thought of him

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes the act of having a thought.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "i thought him"?

The grammatically correct ways to express a similar idea are "I thought "I thought of him"" or "I thought about him". The addition of the preposition "of" or "about" makes the sentence grammatically sound.

What's the difference between "i thought of him" and "i thought about him"?

"I thought of him" often implies a brief consideration or a sudden memory. "I thought about him" suggests a more extended or deliberate contemplation.

Can I use "i thought him" in formal writing?

No, "i thought him" is grammatically incorrect and unsuitable for formal writing. Use ""I thought of him"" or "I thought about him" instead to maintain professionalism.

What can I say instead of "i thought him" to express an assessment or opinion?

Alternatives include "I considered him", "I regarded him as", or "I believed him to be", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.