ものと思う【ものとおもう】

The expression ものと思う conveys a strong belief, conviction, or expectation that something is or will be the case. It goes beyond a simple おもう思う ("I think") by adding もの, which gives the statement a sense of firm confidence, assumption, or certainty. The speaker treats the content as something they take for granted, firmly believe, or expect without doubt.

Strong belief or conviction

When used to express what the speaker firmly believes or is convinced of, ものと思う carries a tone of certainty that is stronger than plain とおもう思う.

Assumption or expectation

ものと思う is also used when the speaker assumes or expects something to be true – often something that later turns out to be different from reality. In such cases, it frequently appears in the past tense ものとおもっていた思っていた to express a mistaken assumption.

Common patterns

• ものと思う / ものと思っている – present conviction or belief
• ものと思っていた – past assumption (often one that was later proven wrong)
• ものと思われる – it is believed/expected (passive, more objective/formal)

Nuance

Compared to simply using とおもう思う, adding もの gives the impression that the speaker considers the belief to be natural, obvious, or beyond question. It is commonly found in formal writing, speeches, and business contexts but can also appear in everyday conversation when expressing deep conviction. It is closely related to ものだと思う, which carries the same meaning.