2023-03-27 ศัพท์ น่าสับสน ชุด I – Imagine - suppose

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Dictionary.com

ออกเสียง Imagine = ‘ih-MAJ-in’

ออกเสียง Suppose = ‘suh-POHZ’

 

Dictionary of Problem Words and Expression

Imagine & suppose

These words are so constantly used interchangeably 

by so many people of all degrees of education 

that it seems useless to attempt differentiating between them. 

You can say “I imagine that’s true” 

or “I suppose that’s true” with equal correctness. 

 

If you wish to be precise, use imagine to mean 

“to inform a mental image of something that is not actually available to one’s senses”: 

“I imagine that Napoleon was a vain and pompous little man.” 

 

Use suppose to mean 

“to assume something without reference to its truth of falsity”; “Suppose the cost to be more than we have in hand.” 

“I suppose that you will use imagine and suppose to mean the same thing,”

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

SYNONYM STUDY FOR IMAGINE

Imagine, conceive, conceive of, realize 

refer to bringing something before the mind.

 

To imagine is, literally, to form a mental image of something: 

to imagine yourself in London. 

 

To conceive is to form something 

by using one's imagination: 

How has the author conceived the first act of his play? 

 

To conceive of is to comprehend through the intellect something not perceived through the senses: Wilson conceived of a world free from war. 

 

To realize is to make an imagined thing 

real or concrete to oneself, 

to grasp fully its implications: 

to realize the extent of one's folly.

 

Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Choose the Right Synonym for imagine

THINK, CONCEIVE, IMAGINE, FANCY, 

REALIZE, ENVISAGE, ENVISION 

mean to form an idea of. 

 

THINK implies the entrance of an idea 

into one's mind with or without 

deliberate consideration or reflection.  

I just thought of a good joke 

 

CONCEIVE suggests the forming 

and bringing forth and usually developing of 

an idea, plan, or design. 

conceived of a new marketing approach 

 

IMAGINE stresses a visualization. 

imagine you're at the beach 

 

FANCY suggests an imagining often 

unrestrained by reality but spurred by desires. 

fancied himself a super athlete 

 

REALIZE stresses a grasping of the significance of 

what is conceived or imagined. 

realized the enormity of the task ahead 

 

ENVISAGE and ENVISION imply a conceiving 

or imagining that is especially clear or detailed. 

envisaged a totally computerized operation envisioned a cure for the disease

 

Collins COBUILD English Usage

imagine

If you imagine a situation, 

you think about it and your mind forms a picture 

or idea of it.

It is difficult to imagine such a huge building.

Try to imagine you're on a beautiful beach.

 

You can use an -ing form after imagine.

It is hard to imagine anyone being so cruel.

She could not imagine living with Daniel.

 

Be Careful!
Don't use a to-infinitive after imagine. 

Don't say, for example, 

'She could not imagine to live with Daniel'.

If you imagine something is true, 

you think it is probably true.

I imagine it would be difficult to make money from a business like that.

I imagine that he finds his work very satisfying.

You can say 'I imagine so' or 'I would imagine so' 

if someone asks you if something is true 

and you think that it probably is.

'Could he get through that window?' – 'I imagine so.'

'Was that why she left?' – 'I would imagine so.'

 

Be Careful!
Don't say 'I imagine it'.

Instead of saying that you 

'imagine something is not' true, 

you usually say that you don't imagine it is true.

I don't imagine we'll have a problem, anyway.

 

Collins COBUILD English Usage
suppose

1. '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.

 

2. '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?

 

3. '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'.

 

4. '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.'

 

5. '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.

 

6. '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'.