零基础学英语：assume & presume

 　　In common usage both assume and presume can mean ‘suppose’ and are often interchangeable in this meaning.

　　在常见的用法中，assume和presume与suppose有相同的含义，意为假设/假定，表示这个含义是可以相互替换。

　　However, technically¹ there is a subtle difference between the two words。

　　然而，严格来讲，这两个词之间还有一些微小的差别。

　　1.presume is to ‘suppose to be the case on the basis of probability’:

　　1.presume表示依据一定的可能性做出的假设：

　　Two of the journalists went missing and are presumed dead.

　　两名记者失踪，推测其已经死亡。

　　2.Assume on the other hand is to ‘suppose to be the case without proof’:

　　2.Assume则表示作出的推测和假设是不基于任何依据的：

　　I just assumed it to be the case.

　　我只是假设它是这样的。

　　另外这两个词都有“承担责任”的含义，表示这个含义时，assume意为“承担一种角色”：

　　I assumed the role of the aggressor in the conversation.

　　在这个对话中，我承担起侵略者的角色。

　　Presume多表示态度有关：

　　He had presumed too great a level of familiarity.

　　他在亲密程度上有过分的冒犯。

　　小测验：选词填空

　　1.You ____ his innocence² before hearing the evidence against him.

　　assume presume

　　2. With the glances she was throwing at their adopted children, I would ____ the reason was jealousy³.

　　assume presume

1 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

2 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

3 jealousy   

n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌

参考例句：

• Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
• I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。