Learn English LESSON TEN - Using 'YES' / 'MAYBE' / 'NO' - with Mr Duncan

Are you sure?

Are you certain?

Is it true or not?

Is it real or fantasy?

What have you really got?

Today we will look at the uses of...

‘Yes’ ‘Maybe’ and... ’No’.

In any language, it is important to know what a person thinks

and how they view things, by listening to their opinions.

The simplest way of observing this is to see how they use the following words...

Yes, is to be certain.

You are sure.

You know that thing is real.

You are positive that you are correct.

To agree with something normally means ‘yes, I agree with you’.

‘Yes, you are right’.

‘Yes it is true’.

If you want to show that you agree with something, you will say ‘yes’.

To allow something to happen also means ‘yes’.

You agree to do something.

You agree to allow something.

You express the affirmative.

You say ‘yes’.

If you want to express the feeling of being unsure,

or uncertain about something, then you will say, ‘maybe’.

You don't know. You are unsure.

You don't have all the information,

so it is hard to make a clear choice.

Something might happen, or it might not.

Maybe it will.

Maybe it won't.

We can also use ‘perhaps’ as a way of expressing uncertainty.

I might, I might not, perhaps I will, perhaps I won’t.

‘Unsureness’ can be described as a ‘Grey area’.

To give a definite answer, expressing the negative of ‘yes’, we will say ‘no’.

To disagree or decline an offer, often means ‘no’.

You don't want something, or you will not allow something to happen.

‘No’ is always the negative.

To refuse something is to say ‘no’.

To express disbelief can be shown by saying ‘no way’ .

To firmly refuse or push away something can also be expressed by using ‘no’.

To express ‘nothing’ can also relate to ‘no’.

‘There is no chance.’

‘There are no opportunities.’

‘There are no people here.’

‘Yes’ is positive.

It shows agreement and sureness.

‘Perhaps’ is ‘maybe’, it expresses unsureness.

‘No’ is negative.

It expresses ‘refusal’, ‘rejection’,

or the absence of something.