WAYS OF EXPRESSING CERTAINTY

DEGREES OF CERTAINTY

Expressing Certainty

• I'm certain that he is a doctor. He always carries a stethoscope with him.
• She must be excellent at mathematics. She always gets the first grades.
• I'm absolutely sure he is a thief. I saw him pick the old man’s pocket.
• It's certain that she is a good mother. She cares very much of children.
• He will undoubtedly succeed in the exam. He is a real genius.

Expressing Probability

• It is probable that my grandfather goes to Mecca next year.
• I guess / I think that he will accept the job. He is very enthusiastic about it.
• It will probably snow in the mountains tonight. Look at those thick clouds in the sky
• He is likely to immigrate to Canada. He is constantly talking about a visa.
• It's likely that he will get a very good mark in the test. He spent the whole week preparing for it.

Expressing Possibility

• My friend may / might lend me his car.
• Maybe / perhaps they will visit us tonight.
• She will possibly go to work by bus. Her car has broken down.
• It's possible that he answers all the test questions because they are not very difficult.

Expressing Improbability

• I doubt that he will succeed in the exam. He spends most of his time playing video games.
• She is unlikely to come back home early. The meeting will finish very late.
• I don't think they can go there on foot.
• It's unlikely that scientists will find a cure for AIDS very soon.
• It’s improbable that she will go to work. She is not feeling well.
• It won’t probably rain this afternoon. There are no clouds in the sky.

Expressing Impossibility

• He can't possibly be the criminal. We were both at home when the man was killed.
• I'm sure he won’t succeed in the exam. He always gets very bad marks in all subjects.
• She definitely / certainly doesn't know a word of German. When she met those German tourists, she spoke to them in English.