imagine
/ɪˈmædʒɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈmædʒɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈma-jən/ (ame, mw)
imagine — verb
- imaginepresent simple I / you / we / they
- imagineshe / she / it
- imaginedpast simple
- imagining-ing form
1. to create a picture or scene in your mind, often of something you have never see
to create a picture or scene in your mind, often of something you have never seen or experienced
Élise closed her eyes and tried to imagine what the old castle looked like before it fell into ruin.
imagine + wh-clause for mental scenes
Can you imagine living in a house with twelve bedrooms and a pool in the garden?
imagine + -ing for hypothetical situations
The children imagined themselves as brave astronauts travelling to a distant planet.
When Hugo reads a fantasy novel, he easily imagines the faces of every character.
- forget
to lose the mental image or memory of something
文法句型
imagine + noun phrase
imagine + -ing verb
imagine + that-clause
imagine + wh-clause
用法筆記
Often used with forms of 'can' or 'could' to express the ability to picture something: 'I can imagine…' / 'I couldn't imagine…'. The gerund (-ing form) is required after 'imagine', never the to-infinitive.
常見錯誤
2. to have a guess that something is true, basing your view on signs rather than so
to have a guess that something is true, basing your view on signs rather than solid proof
I imagine the train will be late because of the heavy snow on the railway tracks.
imagine + that-clause for supposition
The restaurant looks very busy tonight, so I imagine we will have to wait for a table.
Tariq imagined that his sister would arrive before dinner, but she came much later.
Since nobody answered the door, I imagine the neighbours are away on holiday this week.
- know
to be certain of the facts rather than guessing
文法句型
imagine + (that) + clause
用法筆記
Frequently takes a that-clause. In informal speech, the conjunction 'that' is often dropped: 'I imagine you are tired.'
常見錯誤
3. to be under the wrong impression that something is real, even though it does not
to be under the wrong impression that something is real, even though it does not actually exist or is not true
The hiker imagined he saw a bear in the fog, but it was only a large grey rock.
imagine + that-clause for false perception
Young children sometimes imagine there is a monster hiding under the bed at night.
Reema imagined that her boss was angry with her, though he was simply very tired that day.
Kemi imagined that everyone in the room was staring at her, but nobody had even noticed her new hat.
文法句型
imagine + (that) + clause
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 1 is about deliberately creating a mental picture for enjoyment or planning, whereas sense 3 is about mistakenly believing something false. The context often makes the falseness clear through a contrasting statement.
常見錯誤
4. used to show that you are very surprised or shocked by something, especially som
used to show that you are very surprised or shocked by something, especially someone's actions or behaviour
Imagine! Eitan quit his job without finding another one first.
imperative exclamation: Imagine!
Imagine forgetting your own child's birthday — how could any parent do such a thing?
Imagine spending thirty years in the same tiny office without ever asking for a change.
Imagine! Dewi walked all the way home in the rain rather than call for a ride.
- would you believe
more conversational; implies the listener may find it hard to accept
- can you believe
similar function but used as a question rather than an exclamation
文法句型
Imagine! + clause or phrase
用法筆記
This is an exclamatory use, often standing alone at the start of a sentence or as its own utterance. It conveys disbelief or moral shock, not a request to picture something. Common in informal speech and writing.
常見錯誤
5. used in negative sentences to emphasise that something is very difficult to beli
used in negative sentences to emphasise that something is very difficult to believe, accept, or understand
I cannot imagine why anyone would climb that dangerous mountain without proper equipment.
can't imagine + wh-clause for emphasis
You can imagine how upset Folake was when she lost the only photograph of her grandmother.
I simply cannot imagine a more beautiful spot to spend a summer holiday than this island.
Andrew could not imagine that his quiet little town would ever become famous around the world.
文法句型
can't + imagine + wh-clause
cannot + imagine + that-clause
用法筆記
Nearly always appears in negative constructions with 'can't', 'cannot', or 'could not'. The positive form ('I imagine…') belongs to sense 2. The pattern 'you can imagine' (positive but open to interpretation) serves as a rhetorical appeal to the listener's understanding.