Hedging and Speculation — Mayo's Return: The Underdogs Are Back
Grammar: Hedging and speculative language
Free ESL grammar exercise on hedging and speculation themed around mayo's return: the underdogs are back. Printable worksheet from classplan.ai.
What's on this worksheet
A Level 5 (advanced) ESL grammar exercise on sport, practising hedging and speculative language. The worksheet has a short reading excerpt, a grammar reference and graded practice items.
From the reading
Whether one believes in such things or not, the coincidences proved stubborn enough to keep the legend alive. Kerry appear to be the deserved favourites.
Grammar
- Modal hedging
- Use might, may, could to soften claims: This could suggest the team underestimated the opposition.
- Distancing passive
- The result is believed to have surprised even Moran's own staff. — keeps writer at arm's length from claim.
Sample items
- Many commentators ______ tipped Louth to win the semi-final.
- The priest ______ to have declared that Mayo would never win again.
- ______, Moran's press conference was as important as the result itself.
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