suppose + sth + to infinitive (quite rare)

Question

Is the following sentence correct in ANY way?

'Which way do we suppose to take at the next rundabout?'

I hope that it is. I found something similar in the Cambridge dictionaries - both in print and online. Cheers.

GPY · Accepted Answer

No, it isn't correct.

What is the exact sentence that you found in the dictionary?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Which way are we supposed to take at the next roundabout?
'Which way, do you suppose, should we take at the next roundabout?'

Anonymous · Answer

^{I found:}
1. Suppose [T] to http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/think that something is http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/likely to be http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/true:
[...]

[ + to infinitive ] We all supposed him to be German, but in fact he was Swiss.

compare with mine:

We all supposed that way (e.g. the left one) to take at the next rundabout?

hence:

Which way do we suppose to take at the next rundabout?

Note that the verb 'be' is not in bold in the first sentence thus it is not signalled by the dictionary to be the only collocation that is allowed. Suffice to say that there is [+ to infinitive] before the sentence.

So? My fault or the dictionary's?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

AnonymousWe all supposed that way (e.g. the left one) to take at the next rundabout?

It is not a question.

We all supposed that that way (e.g. the left one) was the one to take at the next roundabout.
We all supposed that that way (e.g. the left one) was the one to be taken at the next roundabout.

Anonymous · Answer

yes I made there a little mistake, but it is not the case.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Anonymousyes I made there a little mistake, but it is not the case.

You sentence (copied below) is not grammatically correct.
Which way do we suppose to take at the next roundabout?

Here are some natural patterns of "suppose" with a clause complement.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/suppose (see entry #3)
Followed by a statement that can evaluate to true or false:
From his accent, we supposed (assumed, imagined) him to be German. (non-finite clause as the complement)
From his accent, we supposed (assumed, imagined) [that] he was German. (clause as the verbal complement)

Or followed by a full clause expressing a course of action:
Which way do we suppose (that) we can / should / ought to take at the next roundabout?
Which way do we suppose (that) we take at the next roundabout? (This sounds unnatural to me. There are more natural ways to say it.)

In the passive voice, the non-finite infinitive clause can be used.
(see entry #6)
Which way are we supposed (obligated, expected) to take at the next roundabout?

Or a different verb:
Which way do we propose to take at the next roundabout?

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks a lot.

What about these ones:
1. We all supposed him to be http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/german, but in http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/fact he was http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/swiss. - from the dictionary
2. Did we suppose him to be German?
3. Do we suppose him to eat a lot?

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Anonymous2. Did we suppose him to be German?

OK

Anonymous3. Do we suppose him to eat a lot?

No.
Do we suppose that he eats a lot?

suppose + sth + to infinitive (quite rare)

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