Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'Supposing' to invite someone to imagine a hypothetical situation, often replacing 'if' for more dramatic or speculative effect.
- Use 'Supposing' + Past Tense for unlikely present/future scenarios: 'Supposing we lost everything?'
- Use 'Supposing' + Past Perfect for impossible past scenarios: 'Supposing you hadn't met him?'
- Always follow the 'Supposing' clause with a question or a result clause: 'Supposing it rains, what then?'
Overview
if를 떠올리실 겁니다. 하지만 고급 영어 사용자들은 상황을 단순히 가정하는 것을 넘어, 상대방에게 특정 상황을 '상상해 보라'고 제안하거나, 논리적인 사고 실험(thought experiment)을 유도할 때 supposing이라는 표현을 전략적으로 사용합니다.supposing은 단순히 if의 동의어가 아닙니다. 이것은 화자가 청자에게 «자, 잠시만 이 상황이 사실이라고 전제해 봅시다»라고 정중하면서도 강력하게 제안하는 수사적 장치입니다. 특히 비즈니스 전략 회의, 학술적 토론, 혹은 복잡한 가설을 다루는 상황에서 supposing은 문장의 격조를 높여줄 뿐만 아니라, 논의의 초점을 '조건' 그 자체보다 '그 조건이 가져올 결과와 영향'으로 옮겨주는 역할을 합니다.supposing이 어떻게 단순한 가정을 넘어 고차원적인 가설 설정의 도구로 쓰이는지, 그리고 한국인 학습자들이 흔히 범하는 실수는 무엇인지 심도 있게 살펴보겠습니다.supposing은 문법적으로 종속 접속사(subordinating conjunction)의 역할을 수행하며, 가설적인 상황을 도입하는 부사절을 이끕니다. 때로는 분사 구문에서 유래한 전치사적 성격으로 쓰이기도 하지만, 핵심은 청자에게 특정 전제를 '수용(assume)'하도록 요청한다는 점에 있습니다.if)과 가설적 전제(supposing)를 엄격하게 구분하지 않는 경우가 많습니다. 하지만 영어에서 supposing을 쓰면, 화자는 상대방의 머릿속에 하나의 '시나리오'를 그려주는 것과 같습니다.If it rains, what will we do?라고 할 수도 있지만, Supposing it rains, what will we do?라고 하면 «자, 비가 오는 상황을 한번 상상해 보세요. 그럴 경우 우리의 대안은 무엇입니까?»라는 좀 더 탐구적이고 분석적인 태도가 담기게 됩니다.supposing은 문장의 처음에 위치하여 전체 문장의 분위기를 설정하는 경우가 많습니다. 이는 한국어에서 대화를 시작할 때 «~라고 가정해 봅시다»라고 화두를 던지는 것과 유사한 구조적 기능을 합니다. 이 구조는 듣는 이로 하여금 뒤따라올 결과(main clause)에 대해 더 깊이 고민하게 만드는 심리적 효과를 줍니다.supposing을 사용할 때 가장 중요한 것은 시제의 일치(Tense Agreement)입니다. 이는 일반적인 가정법(Conditionals)의 규칙을 그대로 따릅니다. 가설의 실현 가능성에 따라 세 가지 주요 패턴으로 나뉩니다.- 1Type 1: 실현 가능한 미래의 가정 (Future Possibility)
- 구조:
Supposing+ 현재 시제 (조건절), 미래 시제 (will+ 동사원형) (주절) - 설명: 충분히 일어날 법한 일을 전제로 대책을 세울 때 사용합니다.
- 예시:
Supposing you finish the project early, will you take a few days off?(당신이 프로젝트를 일찍 끝낸다고 가정하면, 며칠 쉴 건가요?)
- 1Type 2: 현재나 미래의 불가능/희박한 가정 (Unreal Present/Future)
- 구조:
Supposing+ 과거 시제 (조건절), 과거 미래 (would+ 동사원형) (주절) - 설명: 현재 사실과 반대되거나, 일어날 가능성이 매우 낮은 상상 속의 상황을 다룹니다.
- 예시:
Supposing you won the lottery, would you quit your job immediately?(당신이 로또에 당첨된다고 친다면, 당장 일을 그만둘 건가요?)
- 1Type 3: 과거 사실에 대한 반대 가정 (Unreal Past)
- 구조:
Supposing+ 과거 완료 (had+ p.p.) (조건절), 과거 완료 미래 (would have+ p.p.) (주절) - 설명: 이미 일어난 과거의 일을 '만약 그랬더라면' 하고 후회하거나 분석할 때 사용합니다.
- 예시:
Supposing we had invested in that startup ten years ago, would we have been billionaires now?(우리가 10년 전에 그 스타트업에 투자했었다고 가정한다면, 지금쯤 억만장자가 되어 있었을까요?)
that의 생략supposing 뒤에 that을 붙여 supposing that으로 쓸 수도 있습니다. that을 넣으면 격식이 조금 더 갖춰진 느낌을 주지만, 현대 영어(특히 구어체나 실용 문어체)에서는 생략하는 것이 훨씬 일반적입니다.Supposing 절의 시제 | 주절(결과)의 시제 | 예시 문장 |will / can + V | Supposing he asks for a discount, what will you say? |would / could + V | Supposing they offered you the CEO position, would you accept? |had p.p.) | would have + p.p. | Supposing you hadn't met her, how would your life have changed? |supposing은 언제 사용해야 가장 효과적일까요? 단순히 if를 대체하는 것이 아니라, 다음과 같은 구체적인 맥락에서 빛을 발합니다.- 1전략적 기획 및 브레인스토밍 (Strategic Planning)
회식) 자리나 회의실에서 발생할 수 있는 여러 변수를 검토할 때 유용합니다. 특히 부정적인 상황을 가정하여 대비책을 세울 때 강력한 힘을 발휘합니다.Supposing the delivery app crashes during the peak dinner rush, what is our manual backup plan?(배달 앱이 저녁 피크 시간대에 다운된다고 가정해 봅시다. 우리의 수동 백업 계획은 무엇입니까?)
- 1학술적 또는 철학적 논의 (Academic/Philosophical Discourse)
대학교) 세미나에서 논문을 발표하거나 토론할 때 유용합니다.Supposing this variable were constant, the outcome of the experiment would be entirely different.(이 변수가 일정하다고 가정한다면, 실험 결과는 완전히 달라졌을 것입니다.)
- 1상대방의 의견을 묻는 정중한 가설 (Polite Inquiry)
Supposing I suggested a different approach to this marketing campaign, would you be open to it?(제가 이 마케팅 캠페인에 대해 다른 접근 방식을 제안한다고 치면, 받아들일 의향이 있으신가요?)
- 1창의적 사고 유도 (Encouraging Creativity)
Supposing budget were not an issue, what kind of event would you design for the year-end party?(예산이 문제가 되지 않는다고 가정한다면, 연말 파티를 위해 어떤 이벤트를 기획하시겠습니까?)
supposing을 사용할 때 자주 저지르는 실수들은 주로 한국어와 영어의 시제 체계 차이에서 발생합니다.- 1주절과 종속절의 시제 불일치 (Tense Mismatch)
would를 쓰면서 supposing 절에는 현재 시제를 쓰는 실수를 합니다.- 잘못된 예:
Supposing you win the prize, what would you do?(X) - 올바른 예:
Supposing you won the prize, what would you do?(O) - 이유: 상금 당첨은 현재 시점에서는 가설적인 일이므로, 과거 시제(
won)를 써서 현실과의 거리감을 표현해야 합니다.
- 1명령문
Suppose와의 혼동
supposing은 접속사지만, 문장 맨 앞에 명령문 형태로 쓰이는 Suppose도 있습니다. 의미는 비슷하지만 문장 구조가 다릅니다. Suppose는 보통 그 자체로 하나의 문장을 시작하며 뒤에 질문이 따라오는 형태가 많습니다.- 혼동 사례:
Supposing you are lost, call me.(X - 이 경우If가 더 자연스럽거나Suppose you are lost; what would you do?처럼 질문형이 어울립니다.) - 설명:
supposing은 주로 '가정과 그에 따른 결과'를 한 문장에 담을 때 쓰입니다.
- 1지나친
if의존증 (Over-reliance on 'If')
if로 시작하면 언어 구사가 단조로워 보입니다. 상황을 '제시'하고 '상상'하게 만드는 맥락에서는 과감하게 supposing을 사용해 보세요.supposing과 비슷한 의미를 지닌 다른 표현들과의 차이점을 명확히 아는 것이 중요합니다.Supposing vs AssumingSupposing은 «만약 이러면 어떨까?»라는 의문과 탐색의 느낌이 강합니다.Assuming은 «이것은 사실이라고 치고, 다음 단계로 넘어가자»라는 전제와 결론의 느낌이 강합니다.
supposing 뒤에 반드시 물음표가 와야 하나요?Supposing we fail, we will have to start over.처럼 평서문으로 결과를 말할 수도 있습니다. 다만, 상대방의 의견을 묻는 ...what would you do? 형태의 질문에서 가장 빈번하게 사용됩니다.supposing 대신 suppose를 써도 되나요?Suppose와 Supposing은 거의 상호 교환이 가능합니다. 예: Suppose you were king... / Supposing you were king.... 다만 supposing이 조금 더 분사구문적인 느낌으로 격식 있게 들릴 수 있습니다.if보다 더 사려 깊고 전략적인 제안으로 들릴 수 있습니다. 예를 들어, 협상 중 Supposing we increased our order volume, would you be able to offer a better rate?라고 하면 매우 전문적인 인상을 줍니다.supposing입니다. 이제 카카오톡(카카오톡)으로 외국인 동료와 대화하거나 영어 회의를 할 때, 단순한 if 대신 supposing을 사용하여 대화를 더 깊이 있고 지적인 방향으로 이끌어 보세요. 여러분의 영어가 한층 더 정교해질 것입니다.Tense Usage with 'Supposing'
| Time Frame | Verb Form in Clause | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Present/Future (Likely)
|
Present Simple
|
Real possibility
|
Supposing it rains...
|
|
Present/Future (Unlikely)
|
Past Simple
|
Hypothetical/Dream
|
Supposing I won...
|
|
Present/Future (Formal)
|
Were to + Verb
|
Very unlikely/Formal
|
Supposing he were to die...
|
|
Past (Impossible)
|
Past Perfect
|
Counterfactual past
|
Supposing we had met...
|
Variations of the Conjunction
| Full Form | Shortened Form | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
|
Supposing that...
|
Supposing...
|
The 'that' is usually omitted in speech.
|
|
Suppose that...
|
Suppose...
|
Identical in meaning to 'Supposing'.
|
|
Just supposing...
|
Supposing...
|
Adding 'just' makes it more speculative.
|
Meanings
A conjunction used to introduce a hypothetical condition or a 'what if' scenario, often used to prompt a discussion about consequences.
Speculative Future
Imagining a possible but unlikely future event.
“Supposing they offer you the job, will you take it?”
“Supposing we miss the train, is there a bus?”
Counterfactual Past
Imagining how the past could have been different.
“Supposing you hadn't intervened, what would have happened?”
“Supposing we had never met, where would you be now?”
Challenging an Assumption
Using a hypothesis to question someone's logic or plan.
“Supposing your theory is wrong; what's your Plan B?”
“Supposing he doesn't show up, do we start without him?”
Reference Table
| 조건 유형 | Supposing 절 | 주절 | 예시 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
가능성 있는 미래 (1형)
|
Supposing + Present Simple
|
Future Simple
|
Supposing you get the job, will you move?
|
|
비현실적인 현재/미래 (2형)
|
Supposing + Past Simple
|
Conditional Simple (would + verb)
|
Supposing you lived abroad, where would you go?
|
|
비현실적인 과거 (3형)
|
Supposing + Past Perfect
|
Conditional Perfect (would have + V3)
|
Supposing I had known, I would have told you.
|
|
일반적인 가설
|
Supposing + Noun Phrase
|
Any relevant clause
|
Supposing a delay, we'll wait.
|
|
암시적인 질문
|
Supposing + clause
|
Question
|
Supposing it rains, what then?
|
|
더 격식 있는 어조
|
Supposing + clause
|
Any conditional type
|
Supposing the data is accurate, our conclusion stands.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
Supposing one were to face redundancy, what measures would be taken? (Career discussion)
Supposing you lost your job, what would you do? (Career discussion)
Supposing you got fired, then what? (Career discussion)
Supposing you got the boot, how you gonna pay rent? (Career discussion)
수준별 예문
Supposing it is cold?
What if it is cold?
Supposing you are late?
What if you are late?
Supposing we go now?
What if we go now?
Supposing he says no?
What if he says no?
Supposing you lose your phone?
What if you lose your phone?
Supposing the shop is closed?
What if the shop is closed?
Supposing they don't like the food?
What if they don't like the food?
Supposing we take a taxi?
What if we take a taxi?
Supposing you won the lottery, what would you buy?
If you won the lottery, what would you buy?
Supposing it rained all day, would we still go?
If it rained all day, would we still go?
Supposing you had a superpower, which one would it be?
If you had a superpower, which one would it be?
Supposing she forgot your birthday, would you be mad?
If she forgot your birthday, would you be mad?
Supposing the flight was canceled, how would we get home?
If the flight was canceled, how would we get home?
Supposing you hadn't studied, do you think you'd have passed?
If you hadn't studied, do you think you'd have passed?
Supposing we invested now, what are the risks?
If we invested now, what are the risks?
Supposing he doesn't agree to the terms, what's our next move?
If he doesn't agree to the terms, what's our next move?
Supposing the government were to collapse, what would follow?
If the government were to collapse, what would follow?
Supposing you had been born in a different century?
Imagine if you had been born in a different century?
Supposing we were to pivot our entire strategy this late in the game?
What if we changed our whole strategy now?
Supposing the evidence had been tampered with, the whole case would fall apart.
If the evidence had been tampered with, the case would fail.
Supposing, for the sake of argument, that his premise is entirely flawed.
Let's assume his idea is wrong for a moment.
Supposing we should find ourselves in a position of absolute power?
What if we found ourselves with total power?
Supposing the very fabric of reality were to unravel before our eyes?
What if reality itself fell apart?
Supposing he had but one chance to redeem himself, would he take it?
If he had only one chance to save himself, would he?
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners confuse the hypothetical conjunction with the verb meaning 'expected to'.
Learners use 'Supposing if' together.
자주 하는 실수
Supposing you will go?
Supposing you go?
Supposing it is rain?
Supposing it rains?
Supposing you are rich, what would you do?
Supposing you were rich, what would you do?
Supposing you didn't meet him last year?
Supposing you hadn't met him last year?
문장 패턴
Supposing ___ (Subject) ___ (Past Verb), what would happen?
Supposing ___ (Subject) hadn't ___ (Past Participle)...
Real World Usage
Supposing a conflict arose between team members, how would you mediate?
Supposing we just skip the party and watch a movie?
Supposing the interest rates rise next year, can we afford the mortgage?
Supposing you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what is it?
Supposing the witness is lying, where does that leave your case?
Supposing the hotel is overbooked, do we have a backup?
다양한 조건문을 사용해보세요
Supposing we tried a different approach, what would be the outcome?
시제에 주의하세요
Supposing you had studied harder, you would pass the exam.
브레인스토밍에 활용하세요
Supposing we doubled our marketing budget, what would be the potential return?
사려 깊은 인상을 줍니다
Supposing the initial hypothesis proves incorrect, how should we adjust our methodology?
Smart Tips
Start your sentence with 'Supposing' to force your opponent to imagine your perspective.
Think about whether the event is possible. If it's just a dream, go one step back in time (Present -> Past).
Use 'Supposing that' to add a layer of professional distance and politeness.
Use 'Supposing' to turn a command into a suggestion.
발음
Stress on the second syllable
The word 'supposing' is stressed on the 'po'.
Rising intonation
Supposing it fails? ↗
Conveys uncertainty and invites the listener to provide a solution.
암기하기
기억법
Supposing starts a Story: Imagine the Scenario.
시각적 연상
Imagine a person holding a crystal ball. Inside the ball is a tiny world where everything is different. 'Supposing' is the magic word that lets you look inside that ball.
Rhyme
When you want to guess and play, 'Supposing' is the word to say!
Story
A detective is at a crime scene. He says, 'Supposing the killer left through the window?' He isn't sure, but he is inviting his partner to imagine that specific path to see if it makes sense.
Word Web
챌린지
Write down three 'Supposing' questions about your life if you lived on Mars. Use the Past Simple.
문화 노트
British speakers often use 'Suppose' and 'Supposing' interchangeably in casual conversation to sound less direct.
Americans frequently use 'What if' in place of 'Supposing' in all but the most formal contexts.
In Western academia, 'Supposing' is a standard way to introduce a 'thought experiment' or a 'counter-argument'.
From the Old French 'supposer', meaning 'to put under' or 'to assume'.
대화 시작하기
Supposing you could live anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Supposing you had been born 100 years ago, how would your life be different?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
Supposing she ___ (know) about the surprise, she wouldn't have looked so shocked.
Find and fix the mistake:
Supposing he miss the bus, what he will do then?
올바른 문장을 고르세요:
Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercisesSupposing you ___ (see) a ghost, what would you do?
Supposing we ___ (not/meet) that day, we wouldn't be married now.
Find and fix the mistake:
Supposing if you win the prize, how will you spend it?
[you / supposing / lost / passport / your / ?]
1. Supposing it rains... 2. Supposing you were rich... 3. Supposing you'd been late...
If you were the president, what would you change?
'Supposing' can be used to talk about things that actually happened in the past.
A: I'm worried about the presentation. B: ___, what's the worst that could happen?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesSupposing you ___ (see) your favorite celebrity, what would you say?
Supposing the flight ___ (be) delayed, how will we get to the meeting on time?
Supposing I had studied harder, I would pass the exam.
What would you do, supposing you will lose your wallet?
올바른 문장을 고르세요:
올바른 문장을 고르세요:
다음 문장을 영어로 번역하세요: 'What if she didn't come? What would we do then?'
다음 문장을 영어로 번역하세요: 'Imagine you lose your keys, where would you check first?'
이 단어들을 문장으로 배열하세요:
이 단어들을 문장으로 배열하세요:
문장의 시작 부분과 올바른 끝 부분을 연결하세요:
각 'supposing' 절을 적절한 주절과 연결하세요:
Score: /12
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
Yes, they are interchangeable. `Suppose we go?` and `Supposing we go?` mean the same thing, though `Supposing` is slightly more common as a conjunction.
It is neutral. It works in a business meeting (`Supposing we increase the budget?`) and in a casual chat (`Supposing we get pizza?`).
Not always, but it's very common because you are usually asking someone to imagine something. You can also use it in a statement: `Supposing it rains, we will stay home.`
This is called the 'subjunctive' or 'hypothetical' past. It shows that the situation is not real. `Supposing I won` means I haven't won yet.
No. This is a common mistake. Use one or the other: `If it rains...` or `Supposing it rains...`.
`Assuming` implies you think it's likely true. `Supposing` is just for imagination and doesn't care if it's likely or not.
Yes, but you must use the Past Perfect: `Supposing you had told me?` (But you didn't).
Yes, to set up a premise for an argument. `Supposing the hypothesis were true, we would expect...`
Scaffolded Practice
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In Other Languages
Suponiendo que
Spanish requires the subjunctive; English uses the indicative past.
En supposant que
English 'Supposing' is more common in casual speech than the French equivalent.
Angenommen
German uses a participle, while English uses a gerund/conjunction.
もしも (Moshimo)
Japanese is a particle/adverb, while 'Supposing' is a conjunction.
بفرض أن (Bifardi anna)
Arabic is much more formal and less common in daily texting/chatting.
假如 (Jiǎrú)
Chinese doesn't have tense backshifting, so the context must provide the time.
Learning Path
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관련 동영상
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