600 Useful French Phrases – Vol.6: How to Express a Guess
sleepingrabbit
This series is for beginner learners ready to reach intermediate level!
If you clearly label fact vs. guess, your French becomes easier to follow and more convincing. This volume gives you 10 go-to frames to express probability—from soft hedges to confident bets—so you can speak logically without sounding blunt.
What You’ll Learn (Quick)
How to keep your speech clear, polite, and structured
10 natural frames to express opinions, suspicions, and probabilities
Handy B2-level collocations for interviews, emails, and daily talk
How to Use This Post (3 Steps)
Read the mini dialogue once – get the overall meaning.
Click ▶ to listen – shadow the bold French lines while listening to the audio.
Swap in your details – replace words (job, school, travel) with your own context.
Review the vocab notes – pick 1–2 collocations and reuse them today.
Piyoko
Now I can hear the right pronunciation too! 🥳
Senpai
Exactly—reading + listening + speaking = triple power 💪
🗣️ Key Focus of This Volume
In science, business, and everyday life, we constantly mix facts with interpretations. These 10 phrases help you signal your guess clearly—so you avoid confusion and sound logical.
Piyoko
I often confuse people around me…🤥
Senpai
Just mark “fact” vs. “guess,” and your communication will jump a level 🤗
🔟✨ Today’s 10 Key Phrases（051–060) How to Express a Guess (Gently & Confidently)
051. Je pense que… / I think (that)…
📘 Mini Dialogue Practice
A: Je pense qu’ils enverront une réponse d’ici ce soir. B: Franchement, au vu de ta candidature, ça me paraît plausible.
A: I think they’ll send a reply by tonight. B: Honestly, given your application, that seems plausible to me.
🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes
envoyer une réponse = to send a reply
d’ici ce soir = by tonight
au vu de = in view of / given
candidature = application
plausible = plausible / likely
à mon avis / il me semble que / selon moi = in my opinion / it seems to me / according to me
052. Je soupçonne que… / I suspect (that)…
📘 Mini Dialogue Practice
A: Je soupçonne que le délai est lié au pont du 15 août. B: Ça se tient; beaucoup d’entreprises tournent au ralenti cette semaine.
A: I suspect the delay is due to the long August 15th weekend. B: That holds up; many companies run slowly this week.
🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes
soupçonner → je soupçonne = to suspect
le délai = delay / lead time
le pont = long weekend around a holiday
tourner au ralenti = to run slowly
Ça se tient. = That makes sense.
un soupçon = a suspicion
053. Je dirais que… / I’d say that…
📘 Mini Dialogue Practice
A: Je dirais que j’ai 60 à 70 % de chances, compte tenu de l’entretien. B: Oui, tu as géré les questions pièges avec assurance.
A: I’d say I have a 60–70% chance, considering the interview. B: Yes, you handled the trick questions confidently.
🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes
entre 60 et 70 % de chances = a 60–70% chance
compte tenu de = considering / given
les questions pièges = trick questions
gérer avec assurance = to handle confidently
J’aurais tendance à dire… / À vue de nez… = I’d tend to say… / roughly speaking…
054. Je parie que… / I bet (that)…
📘 Mini Dialogue Practice
A: Je parie que tu seras présélectionnée avant la fin de la semaine. B: On croise les doigts, mais je reste prudente.
A: I bet you’ll be shortlisted before the end of the week. B: Fingers crossed, but I’m staying cautious.
🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes
parier que / sur = to bet that / to bet on
être présélectionné(e) = to be shortlisted
avant la fin de la semaine = before the end of the week
On croise les doigts. = Fingers crossed.
rester prudent(e) = to remain cautious
055. Je suis sûr(e) que… / I’m sure (that)…
📘 Mini Dialogue Practice
A: Je suis sûre que ma lettre de motivation se démarque. B: Elle met clairement en avant tes résultats et ton impact.
A: I’m sure my cover letter stands out. B: It clearly highlights your results and impact.
🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes
sûr(e) (accent circonflexe) = sure, certain
se démarquer = to stand out / differentiate yourself
la lettre de motivation = cover letter
mettre en avant = to highlight / foreground
chiffrer ses résultats = to quantify your results
056. Je suis certain(e) de… / I’m certain of… / I’m certain I can…
📘 Mini Dialogue Practice
A: Je suis certaine de pouvoir gérer un test écrit, s’ils m’en donnent un. B: Tu t’es bien entraînée sur des cas pratiques, donc ça passera.
A: I’m certain I can handle a written test if they give me one. B: You’ve trained well on practical cases, so you’ll be fine.
🧠 Grammar & Usage Notes
être certain(e) de + infinitif = to be certain to …
un test écrit = written test
des cas pratiques = case-based tasks
s’entraîner = to practice / to train
Ça passera. = It’ll be fine / It’ll go through.
057. Sans aucun doute, … / Without any doubt, …
📘 Mini Dialogue Practice
A: Sans aucun doute, ton portfolio est solide et convaincant. B: Merci—j’ai ajouté des preuves concrètes et des retombées mesurables.
A: Without any doubt, your portfolio is solid and convincing. B: Thanks—I added concrete evidence and measurable outcomes.
In the next volume, we’ll shift from speculation to clarity. You’ll learn how to state verified facts, retrieve a memory, and admit a lapse without sounding careless—so your French stays precise in emails, interviews, and everyday conversations.
Let’s learn to present facts and handle memory moments like a pro—clear, concise, and confident.
📝 Note: Some phrases and ideas in this blog series were inspired by the excellent book “フランス語会話フレーズ600” by Romain Bocquillon and Shio Asami. I highly recommend it for learners who want practical and natural French expressions.
Welcome to my blog! From waitress in Japan to scientist in Europe I share study tips, financial methods, and some study logs. I hope you can enjoy this blog :)
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