We often use percentages to talk about degrees of likelihood.
If you imagine a cline, or line, from 100% = certainty, to 0% = out of the question, you would be able to plot the information and indicate the degree which you feel the statement expresses.
How would you deal with the statements below?
He might be at work.
He must be at work. 100%
He can't be at work. 0%
He could be at work.
He is definitely at work.
He may be at work.
I doubt he's at work.
He may very well be at work
There's no way he could be at work.
If you imagine a cline, or line, from 100% = certainty, to 0% = out of the question, you would be able to plot the information and indicate the degree which you feel the statement expresses.
How would you deal with the statements below?
He might be at work.
He must be at work. 100%
He can't be at work. 0%
He could be at work.
He is definitely at work.
He may be at work.
I doubt he's at work.
He may very well be at work
There's no way he could be at work.
Comment on the differences in each of the following pairs:
He stopped to look at the newspaper.
He stopped looking at the newspaper.
I saw the burglar climb through the window.
I saw the burglar climbing through the window.
I regret to tell you that your account is overdrawn.
I regret telling you that your account is overdrawn.
He stopped to look at the newspaper.
He stopped looking at the newspaper.
I saw the burglar climb through the window.
I saw the burglar climbing through the window.
I regret to tell you that your account is overdrawn.
I regret telling you that your account is overdrawn.