Suppose vs supposed: easy ways to remember the difference

The words SUPPOSE and SUPPOSED are easy to mix up because of their obvious similarity. Here are my simple tips to help you remember the difference between SUPPOSE and SUPPOSED.

When to use SUPPOSE

SUPPOSE is a verb, meaning ‘to presume’.

It’s often used in a sentence like this:

“I SUPPOSE so.”

OR 

“Do you SUPPOSE he’ll be coming along tonight?”

When to use SUPPOSED

SUPPOSED can be an adjective or a verb. 

As an adjective, it describes something that’s generally accepted as truth.

It can be used in a sentence like this:

“This is the SUPPOSED method.”

As a verb, SUPPOSED is the past participle of SUPPOSE, meaning ‘presumed’.

SUPPOSE and SUPPOSED are most commonly confused in the expression ‘SUPPOSED to happen’. 

It’s always wrong to write ‘SUPPOSE to happen’. 

Remember the ED at the end of SUPPOSED and presumED to remember that SUPPOSED is past tense.

Now you know the difference between SUPPOSE and SUPPOSED. I hope these tips help you to remember the difference between these commonly confused words in the future.

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