Anytime you imply that you’re aware of something, you’re actually drawing attention to that awareness. So using words such as know, aware, realized and noticed, you’re already assuming that certain things are true. Let’s use the following statements as examples:

  • I know that the cafe is not open today.
  • Are you aware that the cafe is not open today?”
  • Did you realize that the cafe is not open today?”

Notice how all these statements takes your awareness away from the cafe not being open today or that the cafe even exists. Instead, it focuses your attention on your awareness of the situation. Therefore, if there’s any sort of resistance, it’ll be concentrated on the level of awareness and not the cafe.

An awareness presupposition assumes the statement is true and all that may be questioned is whether the listener is aware. “Have you realized how easy it is for you to relax and read a book?” “Have you noticed how often you help out with the chores, all by yourself?”