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Thread: To suspect

  1. #1
    Will17 is offline Senior Member
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    Default To suspect

    Hello!

    I can't find a really clear answer....

    What's the right structure that goes with "to suspect"? :

    -To suspect someone to do something

    -To suspect someone to have done something

    -To suspect someone has done something

    -To suspect someone of having done something

    Thank you very much for your help.

    Will
    Last edited by Will17; 18-Apr-2011 at 18:02. Reason: The end was missing

  2. #2
    Rover_KE is offline VIP Member
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    Default Re: To suspect

    To suspect someone of having done something
    is correct.

    Rover
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  3. #3
    Allen165 is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: To suspect

    NOT A TEACHER.

    So is "I suspect he committed the crime." Without context, though, that sentence could mean either that you doubt he committed the crime or that you believe he did.
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    freezeframe is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: To suspect

    Quote Originally Posted by Allen165 View Post
    NOT A TEACHER.

    So is "I suspect he committed the crime." Without context, though, that sentence could mean either that you doubt he committed the crime or that you believe he did.
    No. It means that I think he might have committed the crime. The word you're thinking of is an adjective.
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  5. #5
    Allen165 is offline Key Member
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    Default Re: To suspect

    Quote Originally Posted by freezeframe View Post
    No. It means that I think he might have committed the crime. The word you're thinking of is an adjective.
    You're probably right that in my example "suspect" can't mean "doubt," but it can have that meaning.

    I suspect her motives = I have doubts about her motives

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