有些動詞的語意本身含有強烈的預設前提(presupposition),像是 regret 和 recall:
I regret that I told her the secret. → 後悔的事必然已發生
I recall that I told her the secret. → 想起的事必然曾發生
I am sorry that I told her the secret. → 抱歉的事必然已做了
I apologize for having told her the secret. → 道歉的原因必然先發生了
這些主要動詞都是在「表述」心理活動(to assert),但又隱含「預設」前提(to presuppose),前提為真,才會有後續的後悔遺憾。
除了動詞之外,WH- 開頭的問句也有異曲同工之妙:
Who did you date last night? → 預設前提:你昨晚約會了
What did you break this morning? → 預設前提:你打破東西了