وسائل الترفيه · Programme: Expressing uncertainty; expressing certainty · Grammar: Maybe / perhaps; I’m sure + that clause; No doubt + sentence
By the end of this lesson, I can:
- I can name old and new means of entertainment
- I can show I’m not sure with maybe and perhaps
- I can show I’m sure with I’m sure that… and No doubt…
- I can hear the difference between /ɔɪ/ and /ɪə/
- I can start a group project about a song and its artist
🖼️ Picture dictionary قاموس مصوّر
tap 🔊 to listen📚 كلمات الدرس
9 كلمات من هذا الدرس في القاموس المدرسي: المعنى بالعربية والفرنسية، والنطق، ومثال.
📖 Read: Four generations, four ways to have fun أقرأ
We asked four people from Sfax about their favourite pastimes. Here is what they told us.
So, do different generations have the same pastimes? Maybe not, but there is no doubt that everybody needs to have fun.
Do you understand? أفهم
Answer in your copybook first, then check.
- What happened to Yassine’s disc-based games?
Answer
They are in a box now, because he downloads his games.
- Why does Salma prefer the walk-in cinema?
Answer
Because of the giant screen, the popcorn and the Dolby system. She is sure films are better there.
- What annoys Salma?
Answer
People who interrupt the film with phone calls.
- Is Mr Hedi sure that paper books will disappear?
Answer
No. He says “perhaps” and “I’m not sure”.
- Find a sentence that shows certainty in Yassine’s words.
Answer
“No doubt downloads have taken over.”
🧩 Grammar القواعد
When you are not sure (uncertainty), use maybe or perhaps. They usually come at the beginning of the sentence:
- Maybe Sami is at the cinema.
- Perhaps it will rain tomorrow.
When you are sure (certainty), use:
- I’m sure (that) + subject + verb: I’m sure that you will like this film.
- No doubt + a complete sentence: No doubt he will win the match. (= There’s no doubt that…)
Be careful: maybe (one word) is an adverb; may be (two words) is a verb: Maybe she is ill. = She may be ill.
نستعمل maybe / perhaps (ربّما) للتعبير عن عدم اليقين، ونستعمل I’m sure that… و No doubt… (أنا متأكّد أنّ… / لا شكّ أنّ…) للتعبير عن اليقين، وبعدهما جملة كاملة.
How sure are you?
Forms at a glance
| Meaning | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| uncertainty 🤔 | Maybe / Perhaps + sentence | Perhaps the film starts at 8. |
| certainty ✅ | I’m sure (that) + clause | I’m sure that she bought the tickets. |
| certainty ✅ | No doubt + sentence | No doubt e-books are lighter than paper books. |
| certainty ✅ (negative) | I’m sure (that) + negative clause | I’m sure he didn’t see the match. |
Then and now
| Before 📻 | Today 📱 |
|---|---|
| radio | podcasts |
| disc-based games | online games |
| paper books | e-books |
| letters | messages |
| the walk-in cinema | streaming at home |
💬 Useful expressions عبارات مفيدة
Expressing uncertainty
Expressing certainty
🔊 Pronunciation النطق
Worked examples أمثلة محلولة
Try first, then read the solution.
Rewrite to show that you are not sure: Ali is at the stadium.
Step-by-step solution
- You are not sure: use maybe or perhaps.
- Put it at the beginning of the sentence.
✓ Maybe Ali is at the stadium. / Perhaps Ali is at the stadium.
Change the sentence to show certainty with I’m sure: Perhaps the concert will be great.
Step-by-step solution
- Remove perhaps.
- Add I’m sure (that) + the clause.
✓ I’m sure that the concert will be great.
Join the two ideas with no doubt: She trained every day. She will win the race.
Step-by-step solution
- Keep the first sentence: it is the reason.
- Start the conclusion with No doubt + a full sentence.
✓ She trained every day. No doubt she will win the race.
⚠️ Common mistakes أخطاء شائعة
⭐ Remember أحفظ
- Maybe / perhaps = I’m not sure (uncertainty).
- I’m sure (that) + clause = I’m certain.
- No doubt + sentence = it is certainly true.
- maybe (adverb) ≠ may be (verb).
- New pastimes (e-books, streaming) have taken over from many old ones (radio, disc-based games).
- /ɔɪ/ as in boy, annoy — /ɪə/ as in hear, year.
Quick quiz اختبار سريع
4 questions · instant feedback1. Which word shows uncertainty?
2. Choose the correct sentence.
3. A walk-in cinema is…
4. Which word has the sound /ɔɪ/?
✍️ Write: Project step 1: choose a song and its artist أكتب
In this module, your group will make a wall display about a song you like and the artist who sings it. Step 1: choose the song and write a short paragraph to explain your choice. Use maybe / perhaps and I’m sure that / no doubt.
Steps
- Form a group of 3–4 pupils and list three songs you all like.
- Vote for one song and collect information about the artist: name, country, first album.
- Share the jobs: researcher, writer, designer, presenter.
- Write 80–100 words: why this song? How sure are you that the class will like it?
A model text to compare with (after writing mine)
Our group chose Blue Horizon, a song by Lina Trabelsi, an imaginary singer for this example. We heard it on the radio last summer and we all loved it at once. The music is happy and the song is about friendship and the sea. No doubt it is the best song of her first album. I’m sure that our classmates will enjoy it because it is easy to sing. Maybe some of them don’t know the artist yet, so we will show her photos and a chart of her life. Perhaps we will also play the song during our presentation. Yasmine is our researcher, Omar writes the texts and I am the designer.
One good example among many: compare, don’t copy.
😊 The lighter side استراحة
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
What has to be broken before you can use it?
Answer
An egg.
“Why are you late?” asks the teacher. “Because of the sign,” says the pupil. “What sign?” “The one that says: School ahead, go slow!”
✅ Exercises تمارين
All exercises →6 exercises on three levels, with new questions every time.
- Choose the right answerTo do
- ClassifyTo do
- Situation 1To do
- Situation 2To do
Practise: Means of Entertainment
True or false, complete, choose, classify and situations: instant correction with explanations.
Got the lesson? Try it yourself
6 exercises · instant correction · new questions every time
Start the exercisesPictures: Twemoji (CC-BY 4.0). Texts, explanations and exercises: Scolaire.tn.