language learning center · B2 · Lesson 3
Evidence and inference
Distinguish facts from interpretations and express different degrees of certainty.
Understand and learn
Work from a natural example to useful language, one small pattern, a spoken attempt, and a response that is relevant to your life.
Priya
The lights are still on, so the team must be working late.
Priya makes a strong inference from visible evidence.
Ethan
Possibly, although they could have left them on by mistake.
Ethan offers a plausible alternative explanation.
Priya
That is possible. Apparently, the deadline was moved forward this morning.
Priya marks second-hand information rather than a confirmed fact.
Ethan
In that case, they are likely to be finishing the final checks.
Ethan updates the inference when new evidence appears.
Notice, try, and speak
Understand a natural example and learn a small set of useful words, phrases, and patterns.
Useful words and phrases
These items were selected by the lesson curriculum for practical use—not extracted as an every-word list.
It must be…
Make a strong present inference.
It must be…
It could have been…
Offer a possible past explanation.
It could have been…
Apparently,…
Mark information as reported.
That is possible. Apparently, the deadline was moved forward this morning.
The evidence suggests that…
Base an interpretation on evidence.
The evidence suggests that…
It is likely to…
Express a probable outcome.
It is likely to…
Notice, try, and speak
Which sentence clearly marks an interpretation rather than a confirmed fact?
Make it yours
Explain an inference in English using evidence, a degree of certainty, and one alternative explanation.
Choose a situation where you have clues but do not yet know the full story.
Use it with someone
Reason from evidence in English
- 1. It must be…
- 2. It could have been…
- 3. Apparently,…
- 4. The evidence suggests that…
- 5. It is likely to…