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Expressing Hypothesis and Supposition in English (B2 Level)

Expressing Hypothesis and Supposition in English (B2 Level)

When making hypotheses or suppositions in English, we use different expressions and verb structures. Here is a list of useful phrases and their usage:

1. Modal Verbs for Hypothesis

  • Might / May / Could → To express possibility.

The family in the painting might be waiting for a train.
It could be that they have been abandoned in the city.

  • Must → To express a strong assumption.

They must be feeling lost and anxious.

  • Can’t / Couldn't → To express a strong impossibility.

This can’t be a happy moment for them.

2. Conditional Sentences for Hypothesis

  • Second Conditional (hypothetical situations in the present/future)

If they had a home to return to, they wouldn’t be standing there with their suitcase.

  • Third Conditional (hypothetical situations in the past)

If they had left earlier, they might have caught the last bus.

3. Other Useful Expressions

  • I suppose / I imagine / I guess

I imagine they are waiting for someone to pick them up.

  • It seems / It looks like

It seems that they are in a deserted part of the city.

  • It is likely / unlikely that…

It is unlikely that they know exactly what will happen next.

  • There is a chance that…

There is a chance that they are immigrants arriving in a new country.

  • They appear to be…

 They appear to be exhausted from a long journey.

1. Fill in the blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct modal verb (might, must, can't, could).

  1. The characters in the painting be a family looking for shelter.
  2. The city in the background be a modern one, but it looks quite empty.
  3. They have been waiting for a long time because they seem tired.
  4. The artist be trying to convey a feeling of loneliness.

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2. Multiple-choice

Question

  1. The dim lights in the painting suggest that…

Answers

a) The city is full of life.

b) It is nighttime, and the atmosphere is melancholic.

c) The family is celebrating something.

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Question

2. The suitcase in the painting…

Answers

a) Must contain important belongings for the journey.

b) Can’t be heavy because it looks small.

c) Might be empty since it’s just a symbolic element.

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Question

3. The family appears to be waiting…

Answers

a) For someone to guide them.

b) For a celebration to begin.

c) For a bus they have already missed.

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3. Match the expressions with their meanings

Match the expressions with their meanings

  • They might be lost →
  • They must be cold →
  • They can’t be rich →
  • It is likely that they will leave soon →
  • It seems that they are scared →

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