Meaning
to believe that someone may be guilty of something without proof
Primary Function
expresses suspicion or doubt
Communicative Purpose
to indicate uncertain blame
Pattern
suspect; of
Core Structure
suspect; of
Função primária
expresses suspicion or doubt
Propósito comunicativo
to indicate uncertain blame
Situações de gatilho
during investigations, when rumors circulate, or personal doubts arise
Contextos
professional settings (e.g., law enforcement), everyday conversations among acquaintances
Padrão
suspect; of
Estrutura central
suspect; of
Slots de substituição
person (the individual suspected), wrongdoing or activity (the alleged offense)
Colocados típicos
- strongly
- never
- widely
- come to suspect
Substituições comuns
- believe someone to be guilty of
- have doubts about
Erros comuns
using *suspect for; using ‘suspect someone to do’ (correct: suspect someone of doing)
Similar / contraste
accuse of (more direct), doubt
Interferências
French learners may incorrectly use 'suspecter de' (literal translation), but the English structure 'suspect someone of [doing]' is correct; some learners mistakenly use 'suspect someone to do' instead of 'suspect someone of doing'.
Família do chunk
- accuse of
- charge with
- believe guilty of
Nuance
'suspect of' suggests belief without concrete evidence, whereas 'accuse of' implies stronger conviction or intent to blame.
Efeito pragmático
cautiously conveys negative possibility while preserving diplomatic tone in professional contexts.
Dica de memória
suspect of
Nota
The phrase 'suspect someone of something/doing' is commonly used in both formal and casual contexts to express suspicion without proof. It is essential to distinguish between 'suspect' and 'accuse,' as the latter implies a stronger conviction.
Upgrade path
use ‘harbour suspicions concerning’ in formal investigation reports for more nuanced expression.
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