Speaking: Functional Language B2
Hypothesizing & Speculating
Speculating about the PAST 💭
We use these structures to imagine different past outcomes, often to express regret or analyze a situation.
- 3rd Conditional (Impossible Past)
- "If we had left earlier, we would have missed the traffic."
- Modals of Past Speculation (Logical Guesses)
- "The streets are wet. It must have rained last night." (High certainty)
- "He isn't answering his phone. He might have gone out." (Medium certainty)
- Expressing Regret
- "I wish I had studied harder for that exam."
Hypothesizing about the FUTURE 🔮
We use these structures to talk about possibilities, plans, and potential future scenarios.
- 1st Conditional (Real Possibilities)
- "If we get this contract, our company will expand significantly."
- Modals of Future Possibility (Uncertainty)
- "We might open a new branch in Kampot next year, but it's not confirmed."
- Introductory Phrases
- "Supposing they offered you the job, would you take it?"
Scenario: A Project Review Meeting
Listen to a manager and team member discuss a past project and plan for the future. Notice how they use speculative language.
A Deeper Look: Expressing Certainty
📊 Degrees of Certainty
The words you choose signal how certain you are. Here is a simple scale:
PAST CERTAINTY
- 95% Sure: It must have rained.
- 50% Sure: It might/could have rained.
- 95% Sure (Impossible): It can't have rained.
FUTURE CERTAINTY
- 95% Sure: It will rain.
- 75% Sure: It is likely to rain.
- 50% Sure: It might/could rain.
- 25% Sure: It is unlikely to rain.
Check Your Understanding 🎯
💡 Practice Quiz: Choose the Best Phrase
1. You arrive at your friend's house, but nobody is home. The lights are on. You speculate:
A) "They must have forgotten I was coming."
B) "They can't have gone far."
C) "They will come home."
→ Answer: B. The evidence (the lights are on) suggests they are nearby, so it's a strong deduction that they haven't gone far.
2. You are discussing a new business idea. You want to imagine a best-case scenario. You say:
A) "I wish we had started this business last year."
B) "If we start this business, we will fail."
C) "Imagine if this business becomes successful. We could open branches all over the country!"
→ Answer: C. "Imagine if..." is a perfect phrase to introduce a positive, hypothetical future scenario.
Key Vocabulary
- Hypothesize To suggest an idea or explanation for something that has not yet been proven.
- Speculate To make guesses about something without having all the necessary facts.
- Deduction A conclusion you reach based on logical reasoning and evidence.
- Regret A feeling of sadness about a mistake you have made.
- Outcome The final result of an action, process, or event.
Your Mission: The "What If?" Challenge ⭐
Your mission is to practice speculating about a past decision and a future possibility.
- Think of a real decision you made in the past (e.g., choosing your current job).
- Part 1 (Past Speculation): Record yourself for 60 seconds answering: "What would your life be like now if you had made the opposite decision?"
Example: "If I hadn't taken my current job, I would have stayed at my old company..." - Part 2 (Future Hypotheses): Record yourself for 60 seconds answering: "What might happen in your career in the next three years?"
Example: "If I continue performing well, I will likely get a promotion. I might even have a chance to lead a team..."