Certainty Signal
Epistemic modality
Evidential adverb
Stance marker
How sure is the speaker?
extended
intermediate
Speaker stance
Meaning
A signal of certainty, probability, doubt, assumption, hearsay, inference, or confidence.
How to spot it
Look for words like certainly, probably, maybe, apparently.
Examples
Words
certainly|probably|maybe|apparently|surely
Phrases
probably true|maybe later|apparently finished
Sentence
She is probably at home.
Visual guide
Basic shape
claim: She is at home.
^
certainty layer:
how sure is speaker?
maybe -> probably -> certainly
low mid high
Compare shape
Where can E07 live? adverb: probably particle: maybe modal verb: MOD + verb verb/mood: CERT-form same job: confidence
Language View
In your language
English (US default)
Presence
strong
Importance
English certainty is expressed with modals, adverbs, stance verbs, and intonation.
She must be at home.
must = strong inference/certainty
In learning language
Japanese
Presence
strong
Difficulty
Certainty is marked by adverbs and sentence-final forms such as だろう.
彼女はたぶん家にいる。
She is probably at home.
Typical learner issue
Learners may miss the strength difference between たぶん, きっと and でしょう.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.