Listen for Expression of Uncertainty and Suggestion

1. CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1
A. Background of Study
Listening is the ability to accurately receive and interpret messages in the
communication process. Listening is key to all effective communication,
without the ability to listen effectively messages are easily misunderstood –
communication breaks down and the sender of the message can easily
become frustrated or irritated.
Listening in any language requires focus and attention. It is a skill that
some people need to work at harder than others. People who have difficulty
concentrating are typically poor listeners. Listening in a second language
requires even greater focus.
Like babies, we learn this skill by listening to people who already know
how to speak the language. This may or may not include native speakers. For
practice, you can listen to live or recorded voices. The most important thing is
to listen to a variety of voices as often as you can.
Listening is the first of the four language skills, which are:
1. Listening
2. Speaking
3. Reading
4. Writing
In our own language, listening is usually the first language skill that we
learn. To become a fluent speaker in English, you need to develop strong
listening skills. Listening not only helps you understand what people are
saying to you. It also helps you to speak clearly to other people. It helps you
learn how to pronounce words properly, how to use intonation, and where to
place stress in words and sentences. This makes your speech easier for other
people listening to you to understand!

2. 2
Listening Comprehension
The first section of the TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language)
is the Listening Comprehension section. This section consists of fifty
questions (some tests may be longer). You will listen to recorded materials
and respond to questions about material. You must listen carefully because
you will hear the recording one time only and the material on the recording is
not written in your test.
There are three parts in the Listening Comprehension section of the
TOEFL test:
1. Part A consists of thirty short conversations, each followed by a question.
You must choose the best answer to each question from the four choices in
your test book.
2. Part B consists of two longer conversations, each followed by a number of
questions. You must choose the best answer to each question from the four
choices in your test book.
3. Part C consists of three talks, each followed by a number of questions.
You must choose the best answer to each question from the four choices in
your test book.
THE LISTENING PART A QUESTIONS
For each for the thirty questions in Part A of Listening Comprehension
section of the TOEFL test, you will hear a short conversation between two
speakers followed by question. Expression of uncertainty and suggestion are
common in Listening Part A, so you should become familiar with them.

3. CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION
A. Listen for Expression of Uncertainty and Suggestion
3
1. Expression of Uncertainty
According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Uncertainty
means: a. the state of being uncertain(feeling doubt about something); b.
something that you cannot be sure about; or a situation that causes you to be
or feel uncertain.1
When you are not sure whether something or someone will or will not
happen, use the following expressions.
For example, to the question:
"Will John follow a career in business?"
You may respond as follows:2
Well,
it's possible,
it's impossible,
it might be,
it might not be,
it could happen,
I suppose, but
I wouldn't like to say for certain.
I'm not sure
I doubt it.
I have my own doubts.
it's doubtful.
It's highly / very unlikely.
You never know of course,
no one can know for certain.
I can't tell you for sure.
When you are learning a language, you become very good at
showing people you don't know something! But sometimes we have an idea
about something, but we're not completely sure. How can we express
different levels of certainty?
1 Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (8 th edition), New York : Oxford University Press, 2010,
p.1617
2 My English Page, Expressing Certain and Uncertainty. 2014 .
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/communication-lesson-certainty-uncertainty.
php#.VIb1vmdgTVU accessed on December, 9th 2014 at 8.22 PM

4. Question Tags
is a grammatical structure in which a declarative statement or an imperative is
turned into a question by adding an interrogative fragment (the "tag").3
We often use this structure when we are unsure of something or want to check
information.
1. It's not Shilpa Shetty ... is it?
2. She isn't an actress... is she?
3. That's Shilpa Shetty ... isn't it?
4. She's been on T.V. ... hasn't she?
Note: When responding to question tags, yes and no refer to whether something is
or isn't the case, not whether the first speaker is right or wrong. So in the following
exchange, B is saying he doubts the woman is an actress:
A: She's not an actress, is she?
B: No, I don't think so.
Showing the Expression of Uncertainty
Sometimes the second speaker shows uncertainty about what the first
speaker said. Here are some expressions that might be used.
• I’m not so sure about that.
• As far as I know. As far as I can tell. (This implies that I may not know
everything, so maybe I’m wrong.)
…. isn’t it? ….didn’t he? ….won’t they? etc. 4
... isn´t it (tag)?
As far as i Know
As far as i Can tell
As far as I know/ as far as I am aware
3 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_question accessed on December 9, 2014 at 8.27 PM
4 Listening Skill 11-17: Showing Uncertainty. http://www.slideshare.net/marlayoshida/listening-a-skill-
11-17 accessed on December 9, 2014 at 8.48 PM
4

5. These two expressions are used when you have partial (incomplete)
knowledge of an issue or fact.
 No one has complained, as far as I know
 As far as I am aware, the invitations to the party have all been sent.
5
2. Expression of Suggestion
According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Suggestion
means: a. An idea or a plan that you mention for somebody else to think
about; b. Putting an idea into people’s minds by connecting it with other
ideas.5
Things to remember about suggestions:
1. The verb "suggest" can be followed by either:
a. should + verb = I suggest (that) we should go to the theater.
b. verb (in the subjunctive form)= I suggest (that) we go to the movies.
2. "That" is optional:
a. "I suggest that we should visit Paris.
b. "I suggest we should visit Paris."
Many of the suggestion below are indirect invitations, other offer
advice, ask for opinions, etc. Here they are grouped according to the words
and expressions used.6
1. Let
 Let’s go by bus
 Let’s not stay too long
 Let me drive you home.
2. What about…? How about…?
 What about going for swim?
 How about a drink?
5 Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (8 th edition), Op.cit. p.1494
6 Philip Binham, How to say it. Yogyakarta: KANISIUS. 1974. p.58

6. 6
3. Think and suppose
 I think we’d better be going soon
 I don’t suppose you have time for a cup of tea?
4. Some other expressions
 Why not ask him to meet us at the station?
 Why don’t you sit down?
 Shall we go about 6 o’clock?7
Language for making suggestions
Question opener + subject + infinitive without 'to'
Why don't I
you
we
they
buy...?
go...?
meet...?
Why doesn't he/she
Shall I
we
Question opener + infinitive without 'to'
I, you,
he, she, we
should
could
say...
arrange...
talk...
eat...
Let's get...
Why not
Note
Perhaps and maybe can both be used before 'could' and 'should' if you want to
sound more polite.
7 Ibid. p.60

7. The following chart lists common expressions that show uncertainty
7
and suggestion:
Expressions of Uncertainty and Suggestion
Uncertainty Suggestion
…isn’t it (tag)?
As for as I know
As far as I can tell
Why not …?
Let’s …
B. Example of Listen for Expression of Uncertainty and Suggestion
1. Example of Listen for Expression of Uncertainty
Expressions of uncertainty and suggestion are common in listening Part
A, so you should become familiar with them. The following example shows
an expression of uncertainty.8
Example :
a. On the recording, you hear:
(man) : Do you know anything about the final exam in physics?
(woman) : It’s going to be rather difficult, isn’t it?
(narrator) :What does the woman mean?
In your test book, you read:
(A) The exam is not going to be too difficult.
(B) She’s positive that it’s going to be hard.
(C) She thinks that it might be hard.
(D)She has no idea about the exam.
The tag question isn’t it changes a definite statement into a statement
that show uncertainty, so the best answer is one that express uncertainty.
The best answer to this question is answer (C) because the words thinks
and might express uncertainty.
8 Pusat Pelatihan & Sertifikasi, TOEFL Preparation 2, Surabaya : STIKOM, p.24

8. 8
b. On the recording, you hear:
(man) : Do you know what time they will leaving for the city?
(woman) : They have to leave at four o’clock, don’t they?
(narrator) : What does the woman mean?
In your test book, you read:
(A) She’s not completely sure when they are leaving.
(B) They are returning from the city at about 4:00
(C) She knows when they are leaving
(D) She doesn’t have any idea when they are leaving.
2. Example of Listen for Suggestion
a. On the recording, you hear:
(man) : I haven’t talked with my parents in a while.
(woman) : Why don’t you call them now?
(narrator) : What does the woman suggest?
In your test book, you read:
(A) Calling off his visit.
(B) Talking about his parents.
(C) Calling his parents in a while.
(D) Phoning his family.
In this example, the expression why don’t is an expression of
suggestion, so the woman’s suggestion is to call them. This means that
the woman suggests phoning his family. The best answer is therefore
answer (D).
b. On the recording, you hear:
(man) : I’ll never have time to type my paper tomorrow.
(woman) : Why not do it now?
(narrator) : What does the woman suggest?
In your test book, you read:

9. (A) Finishing the paper today
(B) Not working on the paper now.
(C) Ever typing the paper
(D) Taking time out from the paper now.9
In this example, the expression why not is an expression of suggestion,
so the woman suggests doing it now. In this suggestion, the woman is
referring to the paper that the man needs to type, so the best answer is
answer (A).
C. Exercises of Listen for Expression of Uncertainty and Suggestion
In this exercise, underline the expression of uncertainty or suggestion in
each short conversation. Then read the question and choose the best answer to
that question. Remember that the best answer is one that shows uncertainty or
suggestion.
1. On recording you hear :10
(man) : Jane had no problem passing calculus.
(woman) : She sure has a head for, doesn’t she?
What does the woman say about Jane?
(A) She has problem with math.
(B) She doesn’t mind failing.
(C) She isn’t careful in her work.
(D) She’s good at solving math problem.
9
2. On recording you hear :
(man) : We’ve been driving around for an hour, and I can’t find Elm
Street.
(woman) : There’s not a single soul to ask, is there?
9 Widhiya Ninsiana, Listening 3, State Islamic College of STAIN Jurai Siwo Metro : Assalam FC,
2014,p.47
10 Cambridge Preparation for TOEFL (Third Edition), Cambridge University Press, 2002.

10. What does the woman mean?
(A) Nobody knows where Elm Street is.
(B) They’ve seen only one street that may be Elm Street.
(C) Nobody can find Elm Street.
(D) There’s no one to get direction from.
10
3. On recording you hear :
(man) : It’s a little early for lunch, isn’t it?
(woman) : I had to leave home before breakfast was ready.
What does the woman imply?
(A) She is always hungry at this time.
(B) She had to eat breakfast too early
(C) She missed her breakfast.
(D) She can’t have breakfast at this time of day.
4. On recording you hear :
(man) : I can’t make heads or tails of this map.
(woman) : Let’s pull into the next gas station?
What does the woman mean?
(A) They should pull of the road.
(B) They need to buy some gasoline.
(C) They should ask for direction.
(D) They need to check their headlights.
5. On recording you hear :
(man) : Margaret had better apologize to Dr. Morris for having mislaid
that nutrition research paper he asked her to send off.
(woman) : I should say so.
What does the woman mean?
(A) Margaret should say she’s sorry for having mislaid the paper.
(B) Margaret apologized to Dr. Morris for the mislaid paper.
(C) Margaret was sorry that Dr. Morris mislaid his paper.
(D) Margaret made a better apology than Dr. Morris did.

11. CHAPTER III
CLOSSING
11
A. Conclusion
The first section of the TOEFL test is the Listening Comprehension
section. This section consists of fifty questions (some tests may be longer).
There are three parts in the listening comprehension section of the TOEFL
test. Part A consists of thirty short conversations, each followed by a
question. Expressions of uncertainty and suggestion are common in Listening
part A, so you should become familiar with them.
According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Uncertainty
means: a. the state of being uncertain(feeling doubt about something); b.
something that you cannot be sure about; or a situation that causes you to be
or feel uncertain.
According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, Suggestion
means: a. An idea or a plan that you mention for somebody else to think
about; b. Putting an idea into people’s minds by connecting it with other
ideas.
The following chart lists common expressions that show uncertainty
and suggestion:
Expressions of Uncertainty and Suggestion
Uncertainty Suggestion
…isn’t it (tag)?
As for as I know
As far as I can tell
Why not …?
Let’s …

12. REFERENCES
Cambridge Preparation for TOEFL. 2002. Cambridge University Press.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_question. Retrieved on December 9, 2014.
http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/communication-lesson-certainty-uncertainty.
php#.VIb1vmdgTVU Retrieved on December, 9th 2014.
http://www.slideshare.net/marlayoshida/listening-a-skill-11-17 Retrieved on
12
December 9, 2014.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (8th edition), New York : Oxford
University Press.
Philip Binham. 1974. How to say it. Yogyakarta: KANISIUS.
Pusat Pelatihan & Sertifikasi, TOEFL Preparation 2, Surabaya : STIKOM.
Widhiya Ninsiana. 2014. Listening 3. State Islamic College of STAIN Jurai Siwo
Metro : Assalam FC.