suppose
‘suppose’
If you suppose that something is true, you think it is probably true.
I suppose it was difficult.
I suppose he left fairly recently.
‘don’t suppose'
Instead of saying that you suppose something is not true, you usually say that you don't suppose that it is true.
I don't suppose anyone cares much whether he stays or goes.
I don't suppose you've ever seen anything like this before!
You can use I don't suppose as a very polite way of asking or suggesting something.
I don't suppose you'd like to come out for a drink?
‘I suppose so’
If someone says that something is true, or asks you whether something is true, you can say ‘I suppose so’ as a way of agreeing with them or saying ‘yes’ but showing that you are not very certain or enthusiastic.
‘It was good, wasn’t it?' – ‘I suppose so.’
‘Shall we go’ – ‘I suppose so.’
Be careful
Don't say ‘I suppose it’.
Don't say ‘I suppose it’.
‘I suppose not’
Similarly, you can agree with a negative statement or question in a way that shows you are not very certain by saying ‘I suppose not’.
‘It doesn’t often happen.' – ‘No, I suppose not.’
‘You don’t want this, do you?' – ‘I suppose not.’
‘suppose’ used as a conjunction
You can use suppose as a conjunction when you are considering a possible situation or action and trying to think what effects it would have.
Suppose we don't tell anyone, and somebody finds out about it.
Suppose you had a million dollars, what would you do?
Supposing can be used in a similar way.
Supposing something should go wrong, what would you do then?
Supposing he's right, it could be very serious.
‘be supposed to’
If something is supposed to be done, it should be done because of a rule, instruction, or custom.
You are supposed to report it to the police as soon as possible.
I'm not supposed to talk to you about this.
If something is supposed to be true, people generally think that it is true.
The house was supposed to be haunted by a ghost.
She was supposed to be a very good actor.
Be careful
Don't say that something ‘is suppose to’ be done or be true. Don't say, for example, ‘The house is suppose to be haunted’.
Don't say that something ‘is suppose to’ be done or be true. Don't say, for example, ‘The house is suppose to be haunted’.