supposed him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "supposed him" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express an assumption or belief about someone, but it lacks context and clarity. Example: "I supposed him to be the leader of the group, but I was mistaken."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Three years after the war's end, Bernard has returned to his London home and to Queenie, the wife who had supposed him killed in action.

The Guardian - Books

He was quickly apprehended by police; a search of his lodgings uncovered his stash of Thompson's letters, which she supposed him to have destroyed.

The Guardian - Books

I supposed Him to exist only within the walls of a church — in fact, of our church — and I also supposed that God and safety were synonymous.

The New Yorker

While Rembrandt's earliest biographers had supposed him to be the illiterate friend of beggars and boors (and Saskia, the burgomaster's daughter, a simple peasant girl), the nineteenth-century writers thought him a profound thinker, Denker und Dichter.

The New Yorker

Jonathan Glazer, director of three exquisitely distinctive feature films and adman and music-video-maker extraordinaire, turns out to be far from the slick operator you may have supposed him to be.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Any theory that supposes him not to have been the writer of the plays and poems attributed to him must suppose that Shakespeare's contemporaries were universally fooled by some kind of secret arrangement.

Encyclopedia Britannica

What piqued Lane's interest most were the events that must have occurred to the junior Holmes to mould him into the character he is when we meet him at 26, or thereabouts, as Lane supposes him to have been.

Independent

She became devoted to her husband, but he was often on campaign, which led to Mary's family supposing him to be cold and neglectful.

Wikipedia

His belief in this larger end for poetry, many people have supposed, led him to pontifical gesturing.

The New Yorker

The phone and a tablet she got him are supposed to stop him from getting lonely in the dim rooms.

The New Yorker

What am I supposed to tell him?" "Tell him Elmo is dead.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "supposed him". Instead, clarify the intended meaning with phrases like "believed him to be" or "thought him to be" for better clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Using "supposed him" often leads to misinterpretation. Always use a full infinitive (to be) or a different verb construction to convey your intended meaning clearly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supposed him" functions as part of a verb phrase where the verb "supposed" is intended to express an assumption or belief about someone. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this construction is grammatically questionable and requires a clarifying infinitive phrase for correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "supposed him" is grammatically dubious and not recommended for clear, standard English writing. As Ludwig AI states, it lacks context and clarity. While it appears in various sources, particularly news and media, its usage is infrequent and often necessitates a clarifying infinitive phrase (e.g., "supposed him to be"). For better alternatives, consider using phrases such as "believed him to be" or "thought him to be" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid "supposed him" in favor of more precise and grammatically sound alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

believed him to be

Emphasizes a firm conviction or acceptance of something about him.

thought him to be

Indicates a less certain opinion or estimation of his character or status.

considered him

Suggests a more deliberate and thoughtful evaluation of him.

assumed him to be

Implies taking something for granted without proof regarding him.

presumed him to be

Similar to assumed, but often carries a stronger sense of probability.

imagined him to be

Indicates a creation of a mental image, possibly without basis in reality.

deemed him to be

Suggests a formal or official judgment about his qualities or status.

took him for

Indicates a mistaken impression or belief about his identity or character.

understood him to be

Suggests a perception or interpretation of his role or nature.

judged him to be

Indicates an assessment of his character or actions, often with a negative connotation.

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "supposed him"?

The phrase "supposed him" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "believed him to be" or "thought him to be" to express the intended meaning clearly.

How can I use "suppose" correctly with a pronoun?

To use "suppose" correctly with a pronoun, use the structure "suppose him to be" or "suppose that he is". For example, "I "suppose him to be" the new manager" is grammatically sound.

Is there a difference between "supposed him to be" and "believed him to be"?

While both phrases convey a sense of assumption, "believed him to be" suggests a stronger conviction than "supposed him to be". The latter implies a more tentative or initial assumption.

What are some alternatives to "supposed him" in formal writing?

In formal writing, consider using phrases like "assumed him to be", "presumed him to be", or "deemed him to be". These options offer greater clarity and grammatical correctness.