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Vocabulary: certainty or uncertainty...
When I mention "CERTAINTY" and "UNCERTAINTY", you'll certainly imagine that we're going to deal with modal auxiliaries again, and more particularly "MUST" or "MAY"/"MIGHT". Yet, this aspect has already been studied in several lessons test, test, and test. Here, we'll deal with VOCABULARY, and with usual expressions used in precise circumstances.
1. CERTAINTY: in order to express certitude, not having doubts, being convinced, many words and expressions are here to help you.
To be certain/ about something/ that To be positive about something | Doubtless No doubt |
Sure/ surely | Undoubtedly |
Undoubted/ indubitable | Unavoidable |
A conviction/ a firm belief | I'm convinced of it |
There are many verbs with a tricky construction...
To guarantee/ something/ that | To make certain of sth/ that To make sure of sth/ that |
To make certain/ sure of sth/ that | To be convinced of/ that |
To be assured of/ that | To be convinced of |
To take sth for granted | To swear that (swore, sworn) |
2. UNCERTAINTY: the same thing is true concerning incertitude, scepticism... and doubt in general!
Uncertain/ doubtful | Uncertain/ unsure about |
Doubt | Doubtful/ dubious |
Suspicion | Suspicious |
Suspiciousness | Shady |
Sceptical/ skeptical (US) | A sceptic=> scepticism |
Cynical/ a cynic/ cynicism | No doubt he will arrive... |
To have doubts about To have misgivings about | To doubt if To doubt whether |
To be dubious about | = To be doubtful about = To be in doubt about |
To cast doubt on sth To question sb | To express one's doubts about |
To doubt somebody | To suspect stg/ sb of |
To query somebody's motives | To express reservations about |
3. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS:
- It goes without saying (that)...
- You can bet your life that... (informal)= You can bet your bottom dollar that... (US)
- It's undeniable that...
- I could swear that...// I could have sworn that...
- I would stake my life on it...
- He is certain/ sure to refuse...
- It was bound to happen...
- I couldn't believe my eyes/ my ears!...
- I have my doubts about it!
- There is some doubt about what actually happened!
- I cannot say for certain/ for sure...
- There's room for doubt...
- Nobody doubts that.../ There can be no doubt that...
- No doubt he will arrive...
1. 2. 3.
1. It was bound to happen= certain to happen, inevitable.
2. I'd stake my life on it...= to risk my life on...
3. We shouldn't take that for granted...= to treat with careless indifference.
A great number of expressions, extensive vocabulary... , which you don't have to remember all! Now, the test! It's quite easy! Go for it!
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