Speaking: Specific Purposes B2 - Lesson 6: Handling Problems & Complaints in Service Encounters

Speaking: Functional Language B2

Expressing Degrees of Certainty & Doubt

Listen to the dialogue example here.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use a range of B2-level phrases to show how certain or uncertain you are, from being positive to expressing skepticism.

Conversation Scenario: A New Rumor 💬

At a B2 level, you don't just agree or disagree. You show how much you agree or disagree. Listen to how Vanna expresses doubt when she hears a new rumor.

Dara: Hey, did you hear? They're going to build a new high-speed train from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap!

Vanna: Oh, really? Where did you hear that? To be honest, I'm a bit skeptical about that.

Dara: I saw it on a news blog. I'm pretty sure it's true.

Vanna: Hmm, I doubt they'll start anytime soon. It's highly unlikely they have the budget.

Dara: That's a good point. So, you don't think it's true?

Vanna: I'm almost certain it's just a rumor. There's no way they'd start a project that big without an official study.

The Certainty Spectrum 🌡️ (Click 🔊)

Use these phrases to show your listeners exactly how confident you are. ប្រើឃ្លាទាំងនេះដើម្បីបង្ហាញអ្នកស្តាប់របស់អ្នកថាអ្នកមានទំនុកចិត្តកម្រិតណា។

✅ High Certainty (100% Sure)

Use these when you are positive.

• I'm positive that...
• I'm 100% certain...
• There's no doubt in my mind...

🤔 Medium Certainty (Pretty Sure)

Use these when you are mostly sure, but not 100%.

• I'm pretty sure that...
• I'm fairly confident...
• As far as I know...
• It's highly likely that...

❌ Expressing Doubt (Not Sure)

Use these when you think something is probably not true.

• I'm skeptical about that.
• I doubt that...
• It's highly unlikely that...
• I'm not convinced that...

Pronunciation Tip

🗣️ Sounding Certain vs. Doubtful

Your intonation (the music of your voice) is very important here.

• To sound CERTAIN: Use a strong, clear, falling tone at the end of your phrase.
  Example: "I'm positive. ↘"
• To sound DOUBTFUL: Speak a little slower. Your voice often rises or does a slight fall-rise at the end.
  Example: "Hmm, I'm not so sure... ↗"

Practice Your Phrasing 🎯

Practice Quiz: Choose the Best Phrase

Read the situation, then choose the *best* phrase to match the feeling. Click "Check Answers" when done.

1. Situation: Your friend says, "I'm sure the new iPhone 18 will be free for everyone." You think this is impossible.

You say:

• A) I'm pretty sure about that.
• B) I'm a bit skeptical about that.
• C) I'm positive that's true.

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2. Situation: You are 95% sure you locked your moto, but there is a 5% chance you forgot. Your friend asks, "Did you lock your moto?"

You say:

• A) I'm positive I did.
• B) I doubt I did.
• C) I'm fairly confident I did.

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3. Situation: You know for a fact (100%) that the bank is closed on Sundays. Your friend says, "Let's go to the bank now."

You say:

• A) It's highly unlikely it's open.
• B) There's no doubt in my mind it's closed.
• C) I'm not convinced it's open.

Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)

• Certainty (Noun) | ភាពប្រាកដប្រជា
  The state of being completely sure about something.
• Doubt (Noun) | ការសង្ស័យ
  A feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.
• Skeptical (Adjective) | គួរឱ្យសង្ស័យ
  Not easily convinced; having doubts.
• Confident (Adjective) | ជឿជាក់
  Feeling or showing certainty about something.
• Convinced (Adjective) | ជឿជាក់
  Completely certain about something.
• Unlikely (Adjective) | មិនទំនង
  Not likely to happen, be done, or be true.
• Positive (Adjective) | វិជ្ជមាន / ប្រាកដណាស់
  Completely sure; with no doubt.

Your Mission: The Fact-Checker ⭐

Your mission is to practice using this language in a real-world context.

1. Find a news headline or a rumor you heard from a friend.
2. Think about how you really feel. Are you 100% sure it's true? 50%? 0%?
3. Record yourself or practice with a partner. Start the conversation and state your level of certainty.

Example 1 (Certain): "I'm positive that Angkor Wat is in Cambodia, not Thailand. There's no doubt in my mind."

Example 2 (Skeptical): "My friend said he saw a ghost. To be honest, I'm skeptical about that, because I don't believe in them."