think 2

[Anonymous]

Are these all correct?

1. [Till, Up to] now, I have (always) thought them to be useless.
2. Till now, I have thought them useless.
- I think "I think them useless" is very awkward, but "I have thought them (to be) useless" is formally acceptable, especially w/o "to be". Am I right?
3. Till now, I have thought of them as useless.
4. Up to now, I have thought that they are useless.
- I think these two are both natural. Am I right?

Thanks.

[Rusty]

1. [Till, Up to--include] now, I have (always--optional) thought them to be useless.
2. Till now, I have thought them useless. (OK).
- I think "I think them useless" is very awkward, but "I have thought them (to be) useless" is formally acceptable, especially w/o "to be". Am I right?

("I have thought them (to be) useless" is OK with or without "to be."
It sounds more natural to say, "I think they are useless," than to say, "I think them useless").

3. Till now, I have thought of them as useless. (OK).
4. Up to now, I have thought that they are useless. (OK).
- I think these two are both natural. Am I right? (For number 4, I think many native speakers would say, "Up to now, I have thought that they were useless").