When do you think I should come?

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Winwin2011

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When do you think I should come?

I wonder if it is common for native speakers to say "When do you think?".
 

Winwin2011

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I haven't invited you yet!

Thanks 5jj

I was editing my post when you replied. I wonder if it is common for native speakers to say "When do you think?".
 

Rover_KE

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emsr2d2

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Yes, it's a common construction. It might help to imagine it like this:

When, in your opinion, should I come?
 

5jj

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I am relieved that I am not into those spider's-webby diagrams. People who like them would probably have fun with When do you think I should come?

I think that the absence of pauses in speech and of commas in writing make it slightly different in meaning from When should I come, do you think?
 

emsr2d2

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Yes, I think you're right. Perhaps I should have suggested imagining it as:

At what time do/would you consider it a good idea for me to arrive?

Not, of course, that we would ever actually say that!
 

5jj

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Health Warning: Do not read this, learners. It could be harmful to your mental health.
Perhaps I should have suggested imagining it as:

At what time do/would you consider it a good idea for me to arrive?
I wasn't saying you were wrong. I was just musing. I would not like to try to explain the precise difference in meaning between those two sentences in my last post.

As a further complicater, your sentence above could perhaps be interpreted as, "You don't consider the idea of my arriving (at any time) to be a good idea. At what time would you consider this?"

:shock:
 
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