Three Step English - Learn #2 - How to Speculate in English - Learn
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Do you know how to speculate about something in English? You'll learn how in just a moment. Hi, my name is Alisha and in this lesson you'll learn how to speculate about something through a quick conversation. Let's look at the dialogue. So, you grew up around here? Yeah, I'm a real New Yorker. You should know this town better than anyone then. Well, I wouldn't say that. Come on then, what's your recommendation? My friends and I usually just go to Greenburger.

Let's go over the dialogue again, more slowly this time. So, you grew up around here? Yeah, I'm a real New Yorker. You should know this town better than anyone then. Well, I wouldn't say that. Come on then, what's your recommendation? My friends and I usually just go to Greenburger. Let's focus on the key part of the conversation.

This character is asking this character if she's from New York City. When she says yes, he says, "You should know this town better than anyone then." Because he doesn't know for sure if she knows the town well, he says "should." It's a kind of guess that he expects to be true. In this lesson, you'll learn how to make statements like this. Let's look at the sentence pattern.

This pattern is the structure that all of our examples will follow. Subject, should, bare infinitive. Let's see how a line from the dialogue follows this pattern. You should know better than anyone. This pattern is used when using personal expectations to speculate about something. Now let's look at some speaking examples. The character is speaking with someone about what they think the weather will be like.

The temperature should be cold. Can you see how the pattern applies here? Now imagine they're talking about their order at a restaurant. I don't think dinner should be too late. Let's try one more. The pizza should be tasty. Another one. The test should be easy. One last example.

I don't think that the coffee should be too expensive. I don't think that the coffee should be too expensive. Let's review. Do you remember how to order these words to make the sentence pattern we learned? You. You should. You should know. You should know better. You should know better than...

You should know better than I. You should know better than I. Great. Let's do one more sentence. I don't think. I don't think lunch. I don't think lunch should. I don't think lunch should take. I don't think lunch should take too long. I don't think lunch should take too long.

In this lesson, you've learned how to speculate about someone or something in English. Thanks for watching and see you in the next lesson.