In Russian, there are several common ways to express assumptions, opinions or uncertainty. Here are four useful phrases:
1. Я думаю (I think)
Used to express your opinion or assumption directly.
Сейчас 9 часов. Я думаю, почта уже не работает.
It is 9 o’clock. I think the post office is closed already.
2. Наверное (Probably)
Shows that you are not completely sure, but you find it likely.
Наверное, завтра будет дождь.
It will probably rain tomorrow.
3. Может быть / Может (Maybe, perhaps)
Used when something is possible, but you don’t know for sure.
Елена ещё не звонила. Может быть, она занята.
Elena hasn’t called yet. Maybe she’s busy.
4. Мне кажется (It seems to me)
Softer and less direct than “я думаю”; often used to sound polite or uncertain.
Мне кажется, он не хочет идти в театр.
It seems to me he doesn’t want to go to the theater.
All these expressions are common in everyday Russian, but they show different levels of certainty:
- я думаю → strong opinion
- наверное → high probability
- может быть/может → possibility
- мне кажется → impression, soft opinion
Task 2: Watch the video & take the true or false quiz. Choose ‘верно’ (‘true’) or ‘неверно’ (‘false’).
На совещании.
Vocabulary:
- Он в пробке – He’s stuck in traffic
- застрять в лифте – to get stuck in an elevator
- просто – just
- он не такой – He’s not like that
- сдать отчёт – to submit a report
- бедный – poor
- вдруг – what if
- Как вы могли! – How could you!
- распечатать – to print out
- принтер – a printer
Watch the same video with subtitles