grammar · informal

Imagine + (that) + clause / Imagine + -ing

Band 5-6speaking

Ask someone to picture a situation or present a hypothetical scenario; often used to describe or invent situations.

Examples

“Imagine moving to a city where you don't know anyone; how would you adapt?”

“Imagine that your town had no public transport — what would change?”

“Imagine yourself being interviewed by an international company.”

Band 8 sentence

“Imagine being responsible for a community project that actually reduces pollution; the lessons you'd learn would be invaluable.”

Collocations

  • imagine + -ing (imagine doing sth)
  • imagine + (that) + clause
  • imagine + yourself

Common mistakes

Imagine to live alone would be hard.→Imagine living alone would be hard.

Imagine you go to London next year.→Imagine you went to London next year.

Imagine her to sing on stage.→Imagine her singing on stage.

Say it for a higher band

5If + past simple (If I lived there...)→6Suppose + clause→7+Imagine + (that) + clause / Imagine + -ing

Synonyms

suppose

picture

Easily confused

Suppose

“Suppose you were the mayor for a day, what would you change?”

Picture / Visualize

“Picture living in a house by the sea for a year.”

Related words

If + present simple, present simpleOnly after + clause, did + subject + VOnly when + clause, did + subject + VIf + present simple, can + VWithout + noun, clauseIf + past perfect, would + VIf + present simple, would + VIf + past participle, clause

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In Conditionals

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