A candidate who had applied for a teaching position in a school was called for an interview and during the interview was asked to explain the difference in meaning between the words assume and presume by a member of the interview panel. The candidate started his explanation by saying: “I assume that assume means to believe something without any proof and presume means to believe that something is true based on probability.” When the interviewer asked the candidate to explain the meanings with examples, the candidate faced the real challenge and struggled.
Understanding a word means not only knowing the meaning of the word but also having the skill to use the word in an appropriate context. We might know the meanings of certain complex pairs of words but we might find it difficult to explain the meanings with good examples. This is a common problem faced by learners of English as well as teachers whose native language is not English. Here are samples of such complex pairs: allude-elude, hanged-hung, appraise-apprise, later-latter, another-other, assure-ensure, amoral-immoral, amount-number, alternate-alternative, and rise-raise.
First, let us look at the pair assume-presume. Imagine that an office clerk kept his purse on the table in his office and went out for a while. When he returned he did not find the purse on the table. Later, when he was reporting it to one of his colleagues, he said, “I assume the attendant has taken my purse.” In this case, the office clerk did not have any proof that the purse was taken by the attendant. When we suppose or believe something is the case without proof, we use the word assume. If the attendant had been caught or suspected for stealing things on many occasions, the office clerk would use the word presume. “I presume that the attendant has taken my purse.” It is based on probability. Here are more examples:
I saw her at the accident site. I assume she is a reporter.
I have seen her a few times in various public meetings. I presume she is a reporter.
Let us consider another pair of confusing words: allude and elude. These two words have entirely different meanings. Allude means “to suggest indirectly” or “to make indirect reference”. Look at these examples:
The report alludes to the possibility of nepotism.
As the matter is not something to be discussed openly, it was alluded by the speaker.
Elude has three different meanings: i) to evade, ii) to fail to be understood, and iii) to disregard. Look at these examples:
The pedophile has been eluding the police for a decade. (evading in a clever manner)
The inner meaning of the poem eluded all the readers. (escaped the understanding)
She thinks she can elude her subordinates’ opinions. (disregard).