FUNCTIONS [8]

Expressing Certainty

• Yes, I'm certain.
• Of course.
• I'm positive my grandmother repairs the car.
• She must be excellent at mechanics.
• I'm absolutely sure.
• It's certain that she is a good mechanic.

Expressing Probability

• It is probable that my grandfater repairs the car.
• I guess he is fit for the job.
• I bet my grandmother is better than he is.
• I expect / suppose they are good mechanics.
• I dare say / should say / presume they know what they should do.
• She may have repaired the car while you were out.
• Ali may come any minute.
• Maybe / perhaps the problem won't be serious.
• It will probably rain this evening.
• I'm likely to do the work myself.

Expressing Improbability

• No, probably not.
• I don't suppose my grandfather repairs the car.
• I doubt my grandmother does, either.
• S/he is unlikely to repair the car.
• I don't think they can repair that car.
• I'd be surprised if s/he repaired the car.
• It's unlikely s/he will repair the car soon.

Expressing Possibility

• My grandmother may repair the car.
• Maybe she will repair it.
• Perhaps she will repair it.
• Possibly, she will repair it.
• It's possible she will repair it alone.
• She might repair it.
• I suppose she might repair it.
• There's a chance she'll repair it before sunset.

Expressing Impossibility

• No, it's impossible.
• She can't possibly repair it.
• I'm sure she doesn't repair it.
• She definitely doesn't repair it.
• She certainly doesn't repair it.
• There's no way she repairs it.