think something (?)

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,

I have a question on the sentences below:

  1. You must have thought something!
  2. You must have thought of something!

Question 1. Is #1 sentence correct? Is it okay to use ‘thought’ without a preposition after the verb?
Question 2. If the answer to Question 1 is yes, what’s the difference between #1 and #2?

Thank you in advance,
sweetpumpkin

2

To me, thinking something is different from thinking of/about something. In the former, you just have some fresh idea striking your mind while in the latter, you have an existing idea subjected to your thinking and, perhaps, to your analysis.

3

I would go a little further and say that in (1) you just have an idea, not necessarily a ‘fresh’ one, and (2) is indicative of the fact that you ought to have reached some conclusion or solution of some kind.