Speaking
Part 2 - Speculating
C1 Advanced Exam
C1 Advanced Speaking Part 2
In this part, you will be presented with three photos and two questions. You have to talk about TWO of these photos.
You also need to answer two questions. You will need to speculate (talk about what might be happening) about the photos.
What might these people be celebrating?
How long might they have prepared for these celebrations?
Verbs: LOOK, SEEM and APPEAR
These are three common verbs that we use when speculating, however there are some subtle differences between them.
Make sure you are using them correctly.
Look
Used to describe an observable condition.
Followed only by an adjective:
The cake looks delicious.
We need to remember to coordinate "look" with the subject:
The chair looks damaged.
The people look unhappy.
Look(s) + as if / as though / like
It looks like they are in a park.
It looks as though they are buying a house.
It looks as if they are on a bus.
The people look as if they are talking about something.
The cake looks like someone ate some of it.
Seem
Used to show a perception by the speaker.
Can be followed by an adjective or an infinitive:
He didn't seem interested.
Their story seems to be true.
There seems to be some kind of problem.
We need to remember to coordinate "seem" with the subject:
The chair seems damaged.
The people seem unhappy.
Seem(s) + as if / as though / like
It seems like they are in a bank.
It seemed as if there was someone there.
It seemed as though time was standing still.
The car seems like it is stolen.
The people seem as if they are having a good time.
It seems that
It seems that the village shop will have to close down.
Appear
Used to describe an observable condition.
Can be followed by an adjective or an infinitive:
She appears tired.
She appears to be tired.
We need to remember to coordinate "appear" with the subject:
The chair appears to be damaged.
The girls appear to be watching a movie.
Appear(s) + as if / as though / like
It appears as if they are in a bank.
It appeared as though time was standing still.
It appears like they are talking about cars.
The car appears as if it is stolen.
The people appear as though they are having a good time.
Appears that:
It appears that she is very happy.
Phrases: Some sort of… Some kind of… Some type of...
These phrases are commonly used when you're not quite sure what something is, however you generally understand that it may be related to another, larger group of nouns.
Not that these are set phrases and that the noun is always singular.
She heard some sort of singer.
They bought some kind of camera.
They were some type of bird.
It was some type of song.
Adverbs: POSSIBLY and PERHAPS
Possibly
Note that this word goes before simple verbs, or between the auxiliary / modal in compost verbs
They are possibly looking to buy a house.
This person possibly works at this store.
The kids didn't possibly get there by themselves.
It's possible that they like to work out.
Perhaps
Perhaps often begins a clause:
Perhaps the people in these photo are friends.
Perhaps everyone enjoys playing this game.
Modal Verbs: MIGHT, MAY and COULD
These verbs underline that there's still a lot of uncertainty in what's being said:
They might have fled the scene leaving the victim bleeding on the floor.
They may be spending their Christmas holiday together.
It could be some kind of grocery store.
Alternatives to "I Think": GUESS, IMAGINE and SUPPOSE
Guess / imagine / suppose express a large degree of doubt and speculation.
These verbs are usually only used when the subject is I (1st person singular):
I guess (that)…
used when you believe something is true or likely but are not certain:
John can't come to the party tonight. I guess (that) he's busy.
Mary and Clair don't want to travel with us. I guess they've made other plans.
You want to fix the toaster by throwing it off the roof? I guess you could try that.
I suppose (that)…
can also show that you are guessing about something:
I suppose (that) you can come with us, if you want.
I suppose they're all talking about the outcome of the election.
I suppose the kids in the photo are all eating dinner.
I imagine (that)…
to believe that something is probably true:
Jenny is late for work. I imagine (that) she's missed the bus again.
We imagined they would have been here by now.
I can't imagine they sell high-quality products here.