Why do we have to use ている form of 思う with third person subject


I've read from many grammar books that when we are talking about a third
people thinking about something, we must use 思っている, and it means "think"
instead of "be thinking". For example:

>   * スミスさんは日本の物価は高いと思っている is correct
>   * スミスさんは日本の物価は高いと思う is considered incorrect
>

I've tried to find the reason, however, any documents I could find states only
the rule without explanation. I really wish to know if there are any
grammatical or cultural reasons for this.




There are a few verbs that do this. It's not just 思う but also 考える.

I tried coming up with an English parallel but after a few goes decided that
they don't work. The source difference as I see it is that the Japanese
language has a stricter account of philosophy of mind that works from the idea
that we don't have access to the thoughts and feelings of others.

Thus, in Japanese, Verbs about people's thought processes and other things
that are somewhat opaque to observes work a little differently than things
that are openly apparent (e.g. kicking a ball).

It's a little Wittgenstinian, but there's really a difference in meanings
between:

> I feel sad
>
> I think we should have no nuclear weapons

--

> He feels sad
>
> He thinks we should have no nuclear weapons

In the former case, the normal interpretation with mental verbs is that you
cannot be wrong as you are expressing with the sentence your thoughts. In the
latter, what we mean is that someone _appears_ to have that thought, feeling,
or emotion, because we don't have direct access to these things.

Why does this block 思う but not 思っている. I think Darius's example to a near-
duplicate is great on that point. The instant duration of the simple verb form
is different than the ~ている form which expresses of a duration. Also, his
answer explains why the past tenses are different.

With your example pair, we can say both in English. But the meaning of the
word "thinks" if we render your sentence in English means that Smith makes the
judgment that Japan has high prices.

* * *

I found this
[explanation](http://s-ir.sap.hokkyodai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/123456789/929/1/59-1-zinbun-03.pdf):

> 「と思う」は,もっぱら発話時における話者自身の命題に対する蓋然的判断を表す。したがって,「と思う」
> が文末に現れている文は主語が一人称に限られる。なお,「思っている」のようなテイル形や「思っ た/て いる
> らしい」のようにタ形やテイル形にムードが後接している場合は,他者の思考内容を表すことも可能
> となるため,人称制限が無くなる。この場合の「思っている」などは本動詞的に用いられ,文全体は一般的 な引用構文となる。
>
> このように,「~と思う」は,発話時における話者の命題に対する態度を示すという点において「だろう」...

The relevant point is that the dictionary form indicates the speaker's view at
the 発話時 (moment of utterance). Assuming you don't have access to other
people's thoughts instantly, you need to use a stative construction to express
what is inside their heads and inaccessible.




There are a few verbs that do this. It's not just 思う but also 考える.

I tried coming up with an English parallel but after a few goes decided that
they don't work. The source difference as I see it is that the Japanese
language has a stricter account of philosophy of mind that works from the idea
that we don't have access to the thoughts and feelings of others.

Thus, in Japanese, Verbs about people's thought processes and other things
that are somewhat opaque to observes work a little differently than things
that are openly apparent (e.g. kicking a ball).

It's a little Wittgenstinian, but there's really a difference in meanings
between:

> I feel sad
>
> I think we should have no nuclear weapons

--

> He feels sad
>
> He thinks we should have no nuclear weapons

In the former case, the normal interpretation with mental verbs is that you
cannot be wrong as you are expressing with the sentence your thoughts. In the
latter, what we mean is that someone _appears_ to have that thought, feeling,
or emotion, because we don't have direct access to these things.

Why does this block 思う but not 思っている. I think Darius's example to a near-
duplicate is great on that point. The instant duration of the simple verb form
is different than the ~ている form which expresses of a duration. Also, his
answer explains why the past tenses are different.

With your example pair, we can say both in English. But the meaning of the
word "thinks" if we render your sentence in English means that Smith makes the
judgment that Japan has high prices.

* * *

I found this
[explanation](http://s-ir.sap.hokkyodai.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/123456789/929/1/59-1-zinbun-03.pdf):

> 「と思う」は,もっぱら発話時における話者自身の命題に対する蓋然的判断を表す。したがって,「と思う」
> が文末に現れている文は主語が一人称に限られる。なお,「思っている」のようなテイル形や「思っ た/て いる
> らしい」のようにタ形やテイル形にムードが後接している場合は,他者の思考内容を表すことも可能
> となるため,人称制限が無くなる。この場合の「思っている」などは本動詞的に用いられ,文全体は一般的 な引用構文となる。
>
> このように,「~と思う」は,発話時における話者の命題に対する態度を示すという点において「だろう」...

The relevant point is that the dictionary form indicates the speaker's view at
the 発話時 (moment of utterance). Assuming you don't have access to other
people's thoughts instantly, you need to use a stative construction to express
what is inside their heads and inaccessible.

