[Grammar] I suppose a zoo should treat its animals as residents not as prisoners.

[ambitious-girl]

Are these three sentences OK?

I suppose a zoo should treat its animals as residents not as prisoners.

I suppose a zoo should treat its animals as residents rather than as prisoners.

I suppose a zoo should treat its animals as residents rather than prisoners.

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, they're fine. However, you could say:

I think a zoo should treat its animals as residents rather than prisoners.

 

[ambitious-girl]

What is the difference between "suppose" and "think" ? In dictionaries, they both have almost the same meaning.

 

[emsr2d2]

What is the difference between "suppose" and "think" ? In dictionaries, they both have almost the same meaning.

The important word there is "almost".

"Suppose" is a little more spontaneous, and can indicate a level of reluctance - "I suppose I should get ready for work now", or an assumption "I suppose you expect me to pay for the shopping again". "Think" suggests that it is your opinion or that you have given it some consideration.

 

[ambitious-girl]

My teacher said that we can use "I guess" , "I suppose", and "I think" interchangeably. He believed that all of them have the same meaning.
Thank you Emsr2d2, for the clarification.

 

[emsr2d2]

In some contexts, they are interchangeable. That doesn't mean they're always interchangeable.

 

[Rover_KE]

In the original post, #1 (if you had numbered them) needs a dash or a comma before 'not'.

 

[ambitious-girl]

In the original post, #1 (if you had numbered them) needs a dash or a comma before 'not'.

I think a zoo should treat its animals as residents, not as prisoners.

Thank you Rover_KE.

 

[Raymott]

"I suppose" often has the connotation of "I guess" in sentences like this.
"I think" has the connotation of "I believe".
My guess is that you believe what you said rather than supposing/guessing it.