Nuance of some verbs (on conversation)
I'm confusing when it comes to nuance among these verbs respectively when describing thoughts and feelings. I've already studied their meanings on a dictionary. But when I watch English movies or dramas, the translation is sometimes same, sometimes different with their conversational meanings. It pretty looks it depends on situation. Could you take examples when you use those verbs on general conversation?

Here are the verbs I need your help;

I'll rank it from one's certain thoughts to one's assumption just in case.

#1 believe (I've only seen a lawyer speak in a law movie; one is very confident with something??)
#2 bet (I only use as saying 'I bet so')
#3 think (I use this very often.)
#4 guess
#5 suppose (soft nuance??)
#6 assume

Question

Nuance of some verbs (on conversation)
I'm confusing when it comes to nuance among these verbs respectively when describing thoughts and feelings. I've already studied their meanings on a dictionary. But when I watch English movies or dramas, the translation is sometimes same, sometimes different with their conversational meanings. It pretty looks it depends on situation. Could you take examples when you use those verbs on general conversation?

Here are the verbs I need your help;

I'll rank it from one's certain thoughts to one's assumption just in case.

#1 believe (I've only seen a lawyer speak in a law movie; one is very confident with something??)
#2 bet (I only use as saying 'I bet so')
#3 think (I use this very often.)
#4 guess
#5 suppose (soft nuance??)
#6 assume

Answer

#1 believe: Something you know for sure based on the information you have.
#2 bet: Something you "assume", you do not know for sure, you do not base your assumption on fact but most likely on previous events. (e.g. "I bet Jim will be 30 minutes late tonight, he always does").
#3 think: Pretty much the same as believe, but a little weaker.
#4 guess: It is something you assume to be, but you have no real information or previous experience to support it.
#5 suppose: Same as "guess" and "assume" ("guess" comes from a Germanic root, "assume" and "suppose" come from a Latin roots)
#6 assume: Already explained.

Answers · 2

Still haven’t found your answers?

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!