Karamö, le prof virtuelLeçon 9 sur 15
Expressing certainty, uncertainty and opinions
Je sais dire en anglais si je suis sûr, peu sûr ou incertain de quelque chose, et donner, demander ou nuancer une opinion, à l'oral comme dans une rédaction.
- 50 min
- 6 exercices corrigés
- 1 schéma
- QCM de 5 questions
À la fin de la leçon, tu sauras :
- Exprimer la certitude et la forte probabilité (I'm sure, definitely, must)
- Exprimer le doute et la possibilité (perhaps, may, might, I doubt)
- Donner, demander une opinion, être d'accord ou non
- Construire un paragraphe argumenté avec ces expressions
Avant de commencer : Les modaux (can, may, must, might, could), les temps de l'anglais, les conjonctions.
1Je découvre
Veille de la proclamation des résultats du BAC à Mamou. Trois amis discutent devant le lycée.
Alpha est confiant : « I'm sure I passed. I answered all the questions. »
Fatoumata hésite : « I'm not sure. Maybe I passed, but I might have made mistakes in physics. »
Ibrahima donne son avis sur autre chose : « In my opinion, the mathematics paper was harder than last year's. » Fatoumata répond : « I don't agree. I think it was easier. »
Chacun parle différemment : l'un exprime une certitude, l'autre une incertitude, le troisième une opinion, et Fatoumata marque son désaccord. En anglais, il existe des expressions précises pour chacune de ces attitudes.
Au BAC, ces expressions sont testées dans les exercices de fonctions de communication (« What would you say in this situation? ») et elles sont indispensables dans la rédaction d'opinion.
Comment exprimer en anglais la certitude, le doute et l'opinion, avec la bonne nuance ?
2Je comprends
1. Une échelle de certitude
On peut classer les expressions de la plus sûre à la plus incertaine.
- 1Certain : I'm sure, I'm certain, definitely, there's no doubt that…
- 2Très probable : must (déduction), I'm almost sure…
- 3Probable : probably, likely, should…
- 4Possible : may, perhaps, maybe…
- 5Peu probable : might, could, I doubt if…
- 6Impossible : can't, certainly not…
2. Exprimer la certitude
| Expression | Exemple |
|---|---|
| I'm sure / I'm certain (that)… | I'm sure (that) she will come. |
| I'm convinced (that)… | I'm convinced that education is the key. |
| I have no doubt (that)… | I have no doubt that he is honest. |
| There's no doubt that… | There's no doubt that the Niger rises in Guinea. |
| Certainly, definitely, surely, of course | He will definitely win. |
| It's obvious / clear that… | It's obvious that he is tired. |
| I know for sure / for certain that… |
Les modaux de déduction expriment une certitude logique :
- must = « doit sûrement » (déduction positive) : The lights are on. They must be at home.
- can't = « ne peut pas » (déduction négative) : He can't be hungry; he has just eaten.
Pour le passé : must have + participe passé, can't have + participe passé : The ground is wet. It must have rained last night.
3. Exprimer la probabilité et l'incertitude
| Expression | Sens | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| probably, likely | probable | She will probably be late. He is likely to win. |
| perhaps, maybe | peut-être | Perhaps they missed the bus. |
| may, might, could + base | possible | It may rain this afternoon. He might come. |
| I'm not sure / I'm not certain (if / whether)… | incertain | I'm not sure whether he knows. |
| I doubt (if / whether / that)… | je doute que | I doubt if he will come. |
| It's possible that… / It's unlikely that… | It's unlikely that the price will fall. | |
| I wonder if… | je me demande si | I wonder if she got my message. |
| I have no idea. / I can't say for sure. |
Au passé : may have / might have / could have + participe passé : She might have forgotten the meeting.
Attention à la place de probably : après be et les auxiliaires (He is probably tired ; He will probably come), mais avant won't : He probably won't come.
4. Donner son opinion
| Pour donner son avis | Pour demander un avis |
|---|---|
| I think (that)… / I believe (that)… | What do you think of / about…? |
| In my opinion,… / In my view,… | What's your opinion on…? |
| As far as I'm concerned,… | How do you feel about…? |
| Personally, I feel that… | Do you think that…? |
| It seems to me that… | What's your view on…? |
| To my mind,… / From my point of view,… |
Attention : on dit In my opinion (pas ~~According to me~~, qui est un calque du français « selon moi » ; according to s'emploie pour l'avis des autres : According to the doctor, …). Et on dit I think that he is right / I don't think that he is right (en anglais, on préfère placer la négation sur think plutôt que dans la subordonnée).
5. Être d'accord ou non
- Accord : I agree (with you). You're right. Exactly! That's true. I think so too. I couldn't agree more.
- Accord partiel : I partly agree, but… That's true, but… You may be right, but…
- Désaccord poli : I don't agree. I disagree. I'm afraid I don't agree. I don't think so. I see your point, but…
On dit I agree et non ~~I am agree~~ : agree est un verbe.
Méthode
Pour répondre à une question de fonction de communication (« What would you say? ») :
- Je lis la situation et j'identifie la fonction demandée : certitude, doute, opinion, accord, désaccord.
- Je choisis une expression adaptée au degré de certitude (sure, probably, might, I doubt…).
- Je complète avec la bonne construction : that + phrase, if/whether + phrase, modal + base verbale.
- Je vérifie le temps (must have + p.p. pour une déduction sur le passé).
- J'écris une phrase complète, polie et naturelle.
Exemple
What would you say in these situations?
a) Your friend is sure that it will rain, but the sky is completely clear. You disagree politely.
b) You see that your classmate's eyes are red and she is yawning. Make a deduction.
c) You are not sure that the shop is open on Sunday.
a) Désaccord poli : I'm afraid I don't agree. The sky is clear; I don't think it will rain.
b) Déduction logique forte → must : She must be very tired. She must have gone to bed late.
c) Incertitude : I'm not sure whether the shop is open on Sunday. / The shop might be closed on Sunday.
Exemple
Rewrite each sentence using the word in brackets, without changing the meaning.
a) Perhaps Lansana is at the mosque. (might)
b) I'm sure the thief entered through the window. (must)
c) It is impossible that Kadiatou is in Conakry; I saw her in Kankan an hour ago. (can't)
a) Possibilité → might + base : Lansana might be at the mosque.
b) Certitude sur le passé → must have + p.p. : The thief must have entered through the window.
c) Impossibilité au présent → can't + base : Kadiatou can't be in Conakry; I saw her in Kankan an hour ago.
6. Dans une rédaction d'opinion
Un bon paragraphe d'opinion suit un plan simple : annonce de l'opinion (In my opinion…), arguments avec des exemples (First… Moreover… For example…), concession (Of course, some people think that… but…), conclusion (That is why I am convinced that…). Varie les expressions : n'écris pas « I think » à chaque phrase.
3Je retiens
Je retiens
Certitude : I'm sure / certain that… ; I have no doubt that… ; definitely, certainly ; must (déduction) ; can't (impossible).
Probabilité : probably, likely ; possibilité : perhaps, maybe, may, might, could.
Doute : I'm not sure if / whether… ; I doubt if… ; I wonder if…
Passé : must have / can't have / might have + participe passé.
Opinion : I think / I believe that… ; In my opinion… ; As far as I'm concerned… ; It seems to me that…
Demander : What do you think of…? How do you feel about…?
Accord : I agree, You're right, I think so too. Désaccord : I don't agree, I'm afraid I disagree, I don't think so.
4Erreurs fréquentes
- Écrire « I am agree » : on écrit « I agree », car agree est un verbe.
- Utiliser « According to me » pour son propre avis : on écrit « In my opinion ».
- Mettre to après un modal : « He might come », pas « He might to come ».
- Confondre must (déduction : c'est sûrement vrai) et can't (déduction : c'est impossible) : « He can't be at home, his car is not here », pas « He mustn't be at home ».
5Je m’exerce
1Exercice 1
Classify these expressions into three groups: certainty, uncertainty, opinion.
*I doubt it — There's no doubt — In my view — Maybe — I'm convinced — As far as I'm concerned — I'm not sure — Definitely — It seems to me that — Perhaps*
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
Certainty: There's no doubt, I'm convinced, Definitely.
Uncertainty: I doubt it, Maybe, I'm not sure, Perhaps.
Opinion: In my view, As far as I'm concerned, It seems to me that.
2Exercice 2
Complete with must, can't, might or may not.
a) Sékou has been walking for five hours. He ... be exhausted.
b) Don't wait for Hawa. She ... come, she isn't feeling well.
c) That ... be Mamadou; he is in Labé today.
d) Take your umbrella: it ... rain later.
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
a) must (déduction logique) b) may not (ou might not : possibilité négative) c) can't (impossible) d) might (possibilité)
3Exercice 3
Rewrite using the words in brackets.
a) Perhaps the teacher is ill. (may)
b) I'm sure Fanta passed her exam; she is smiling. (must)
c) I don't think he will come. (doubt)
d) It's impossible that they have finished already. (can't)
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
a) The teacher may be ill.
b) Fanta must have passed her exam; she is smiling.
c) I doubt if (whether / that) he will come.
d) They can't have finished already.
4Exercice 4
What would you say in these situations?
a) A friend asks you your opinion about school uniforms.
b) Your brother says that football is the best sport. You totally agree.
c) Someone asks you when the next bus leaves, but you don't know exactly.
d) Your classmate says that English is useless in Guinea. You disagree politely.
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
Example answers:
a) In my opinion, school uniforms are a good thing because all students look equal.
b) I couldn't agree more! / You're absolutely right.
c) I'm not sure, but I think it leaves at about ten. / I can't say for sure.
d) I'm afraid I don't agree. English is very useful: our neighbours Sierra Leone and Liberia speak English, and many international companies work in Guinea.
5Exercice 5
(BAC format) Read the dialogue and answer.
Aïssatou: Do you think mobile phones should be allowed at school?
Ousmane: Definitely not! In my opinion, students would spend their time on social media.
Aïssatou: I see your point, but phones can help us to do research. I'm sure they could be useful in class.
Ousmane: Maybe you're right, but I doubt that all students would use them well.
a) Pick out two expressions of certainty and two expressions of uncertainty.
b) Pick out the expression that Aïssatou uses to disagree politely.
c) What is Ousmane's opinion? What is Aïssatou's opinion?
d) And you? Give your opinion in two or three sentences.
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
a) Certainty: Definitely (not), I'm sure. Uncertainty: Maybe, I doubt that.
b) I see your point, but…
c) Ousmane thinks that phones should not be allowed because students would waste time on social media. Aïssatou thinks that phones could be useful for research in class.
d) Example answer: *As far as I'm concerned, phones can be allowed, but only during research activities. I'm convinced that teachers must control their use.*
6Exercice 6
Write a paragraph of 8 to 10 lines: Is it better to study in Guinea or abroad? Use at least two expressions of opinion, one of certainty and one of uncertainty.
Voir le corrigéCacher le corrigé
Example answer:
*In my opinion, it is better to study in Guinea first. I'm convinced that our universities can give students a good education, and studying at home is less expensive for families. Moreover, students who stay know the real problems of the country. Of course, some people think that studying abroad offers more opportunities, and they may be right for some specialities. However, I doubt that every student who leaves comes back to help the country. That is why, as far as I'm concerned, the best solution is to study in Guinea and go abroad later for a specialisation.*
Cherche d’abord seul, sur ton cahier, puis ouvre le corrigé pour comparer.
6Je vérifie
Choisis une réponse pour chaque question : la correction s’affiche aussitôt.
Crée ton compte élève gratuit pour cocher les leçons terminées, suivre ta progression et gagner des points au QCM.
