This sentence pattern is used to strongly tell somebody not to do something. Not only are we telling them not to do it, but we are also telling them not to think about doing it.

We use this pattern to warn people.

• Don't even think about saying anything. I will kill you if you do!
• Don't even think about touching my sandwich!
• Don't even think about smoking. I'll punch you if you smoke.

We can also it to give advice.

• Don't even think about your ex-boyfriend. You will find a better guy soon.
• Don't even think about the test results. Try to think about something else.
• Don't even think about smoking. Focus your attention on something else.

It depends on the situation and how you say it.

Don't even think about + noun/gerund…

• Don't even think about leaving early.
• Don't even think about saying her name.
• Don't even think about eating the last cookie.
• Don't even think about touching my computer while I am gone.
• Don't even think about it.
• Don't even think about touching my phone while I am in the bathroom.
• Don't even think about that problem now.

There is a similar sentence pattern that we use a lot in English.

Subject + didn't even think about + noun/gerund…

This pattern shows that a thought never came into a person's head. We usually use it to exaggerate or emphasize.

• I am a workaholic, but when I stayed at that hotel I didn't even think about work because everything was so nice and beautiful.
• She didn't even think about her problems when she was snowboarding.
• They didn't even think about their marketing strategy when they were making this business plan.
• She didn't even think about how her family would feel when she moved to China.

Bonus Tips and Points

1. We can also make present tense sentences. These sentences show what a person does not think about.

We usually say this when a person used to think about something a lot, but now does not.

• I don't even think about my ex-girlfriend anymore.
• She doesn't even think about her hometown anymore.
• We don't even think about moving to a new city anymore. It is impossible.

We also use it when something is so crazy, outrageous, or unthinkable, that the thought of doing it never pops into a person's head.

• They don't even think about reporting their boss' bad behavior.
• I don't even think about telling my wife to lose weight. She would kill me.

2. We can also use the present perfect tense to make similar sentences. These sentences show that a particular action has not been thought about or considered by a person or group of people.

• We haven't even thought about hiring a new supplier.
• She hasn't even thought about selling her apartment.

Real-World English Conversations

A) Can I have that cookie?
B) No! It's mine. Don't even think about touching it.

A) I might go home early today.
B) Don't even think about it. We have a lot of work to do.

A) I'm thinking about calling my ex-girlfriend.
B) Don't even think about calling her. She was terrible for you.

A) You are on a diet. Don't even think about touching that hamburger.
B) But it looks so good!
A) I said don't even think about it.

A) Don't even think about pushing me into the swimming pool.
B) Too late! I already thought about it.
A) That is funny, but seriously don't do it.

Use these free English lessons to learn the most common sentence patterns in the English language. If you learn these sentence and questions well, it will help you speak English well. Study the lessons thoroughly, practice making your own sentences, and come back to review often. If you do these three steps, your English speaking will improve quickly and you will be able to have natural English conversations.