I suppose not

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Inchoateknowledge

#297769 Sun, 26 Nov 06 04:08 PM

A: 'We will not be in time for the train.'

BA: 'I suppose not.'

BB: 'I do not suppose so.'

Do BA and BB mean that they do not think so, either?

One more question:

If you did not have any help, no grammar site addresses or books, only Google, how would you find the answer to this question?

What would you write in the search field in Google?

I hope you get me.

Thanks

Inchoateknowledge

Joined on Wed, May 3 2006

Senior Member (2,537)

Beep! Beep! :)

Grammar

Diamondrg

#297774 Sun, 26 Nov 06 05:05 PM

You can make a general search using Google like this:

"I suppose not" = 255.000

"I don't suppose so" = 793

then you can make a restricted but more reliable search like this:

"I suppose not" site:nytimes.com = 22

"I don't suppose so" site:nytimes.com = 0

This search generally does not indicate grammatical correctness or incorrectness, but gives an idea about the frequency of the phrase.

Now you know that "I suppose not" is used more than "I don't suppose so".

Diamondrg

Joined on Fri, Dec 2 2005

Turkey

Contributing Member (1,043)

Inchoateknowledge

#297779 Sun, 26 Nov 06 05:11 PM

Hi,

I know that "I do not suppose so" is correct; what it means in the context I am not sure, though.

thanks

Inchoateknowledge

Diamondrg

#297783 Sun, 26 Nov 06 05:23 PM

With the verbs suppose, imagine and expect we can make negative forms in two ways:

subject + verb + not // subject + do not + verb + so

I suppose not. // I don't suppose so.

I imagine not. // I don't imagine so.

I expect not. // I don't expect so.

The Heinemann English Grammar

Grammars give them as answers to questions, not negative sentences.

- 'Do you think Kate has been invited to the party?' 'I suppose so.'

English Grammar in Use

- 'Is she ill?' 'I don't think so.'

the Heinemann English Grammar

The context in your sentence is an unusual one.

Diamondrg

Grammar, Verbs, Negatives, English Grammar

Inchoateknowledge

#297784 Sun, 26 Nov 06 05:28 PM

Smile [:)]

Hi again,

A: 'We will not be in time for the train.'

B: 'I suppose not.' = we will not be in time ..., or we will be in time ... ?

B: 'I do not suppose so.' = we will not be in time ..., or we will be in time ... ?

thx

Inchoateknowledge

CalifJim

#297981 Mon, 27 Nov 06 06:02 AM

We will not be on time.
I suppose not. = I suppose the same as you, namely, that we will not be on time. = I don't suppose so. = I assume you are right. = I suppose.[!!!] = I suppose so. [!!!]

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,692)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Inchoateknowledge

#297996 Mon, 27 Nov 06 06:40 AM

Hi CJ

Thanks for confirming my assumption.

Inchoateknowledge