Lesson focus

Grammar for cautious claims, probability, distancing and measured academic or professional stance

Advanced aim: Build cautious academic and professional claims by controlling commitment, distance and probability.

Seem to

Seem to lets the speaker present an interpretation as provisional rather than absolute.

• Example: The latest figures seem to indicate a gradual recovery.
• In another context: Regional example: The latest figures seem to indicate a gradual recovery.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Appear to have

Appear to have + past participle cautiously comments on an earlier event or result.

• Example: The company appears to have underestimated the implementation costs.
• In another context: The research institute appears to have underestimated the implementation costs.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Tend to

Tend to expresses a general tendency without claiming that something is always true.

• Example: Smaller teams tend to make decisions more quickly.
• In another context: Follow-up case: Smaller teams tend to make decisions more quickly.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Be likely to

Be likely to expresses probability in a neutral, often formal way.

• Example: Demand is likely to remain weak during the first quarter.
• In another context: Alternative case study: Demand is likely to remain weak during the first quarter.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

May well

May well signals that a possibility is relatively strong while still avoiding certainty.

• Example: The change may well affect smaller suppliers disproportionately.
• In another context: Regional example: The change may well affect smaller suppliers disproportionately.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

It would seem

It would seem is a distancing structure that makes a conclusion sound cautious.

• Example: It would seem that the original estimate was based on incomplete data.
• In another context: It would seem that the original estimate was based on incomplete records.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Would appear

Would appear is a formal hedging expression used to soften conclusions.

• Example: There would appear to be a gap between policy and practice.
• In another context: Follow-up case: There would appear to be a gap between policy and practice.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Not necessarily

Not necessarily limits a generalisation by showing that a conclusion does not always follow.

• Example: A higher salary does not necessarily lead to greater job satisfaction.
• In another context: Alternative case study: A higher salary does not necessarily lead to greater job satisfaction.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Somewhat + adjective

Somewhat can soften an evaluative adjective in formal writing.

• Example: The proposed timetable is somewhat unrealistic given the available resources.
• In another context: Regional example: The proposed timetable is somewhat unrealistic given the available resources.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.

Arguably

Arguably marks a claim as open to debate while still presenting it as defensible.

• Example: This is arguably the most significant change in the sector for a decade.
• In another context: Separate scenario: This is arguably the most significant change in the sector for a decade.

C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.