Class 19-1: Expressing Degrees of Certainty
He is upset.
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In American speech degrees of certainty means how confident you are about how correct a statement is. |
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Rules: If you are 100% sure about the topic you are discussing, use is. Is is used for a statement of fact. (Example 1) If you are 90% sure about the topic you are discussing, use must be. (Example 2) If you are 60% sure about the topic you are discussing, use may be, maybe, might be, or could be. These words are discussing suspicious or uncertain thoughts. (Examples 3, 4 and 5) |
Examples: 1. Tom is sad. 2. Tom must be sad. 3. Tom may be sad. 4. Maybe Tom’s sad. 6. Tom might be sad. 7. Tom could be sad. |
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Definition: Must be is also used when you have complete confidence in the topic you are discussing, but you have no idea if it is completely true or completely false. |
Examples: Tom is not here. He is usually in class every day. He must be sick. *You have no idea if Tom is truly sick or not, but you have complete confidence that he is sick. |
He must be rich.
Exercise
Exercise 1: Underline the correct degree of certainty for each sentence. Look at the percentage next to the question, then look above to match the degree of certainty with the percentage.
1. 60% → Terri (could be / must be) a girl’s name.
2. 100% → My mom (maybe / is) a slow driver.
3. 100% → My dad (is / must be) sick.
4. 90% → Your shoes (must be / is) in the closet.
5. 100% → Tom (must be / is) sad.
6. 60% → John (might be / is) on time if he woke up early.
7. 100% → Seth (maybe / is) late.
8. 100% → Ann (could be / is) at the store.
9. 60% → Chris (must be / maybe) at home.
10. 90% → Your keys (must be / are) on the table.
Tag:Modals (Part 2)
