Common Sounds and Human Voice Expressions in English

Common Sounds and Human Voice Expressions

This article provides a comprehensive list of common sounds and human voice expressions, along with their meanings and examples. It also covers grammatical structures for speculation and deduction.

Common Sounds

Human Voice Expressions

• Scream: To make a loud, high cry because you are hurt, frightened, or excited. (Gritar)
• Yell: To shout loudly because you are angry. (Gritar a alguien)
• Giggle: To laugh in a silly way. (Risita)
• Whisper: To speak very quietly so that other people can’t hear what you’re saying. (Susurrar)
• Mumble: To speak or say something in a quiet voice in a way that is not clear. (Balbucear, hablar mal)
• Groan: To make a long, deep sound because you are in pain or annoyed. (Gemir, quejarse)
• Stammer: To speak with difficulty, often repeating sounds or words. (Tartamudear)
• Sob: To cry noisily, taking sudden, sharp breaths. (Llorar y respirar)
• Sigh: To let out a long, deep breath to show that you are disappointed or tired. (Suspirar)

Grammar: Speculation and Deduction

Modal Verbs: Must, May, Might, Can’t, Could, Should, Ought To

• Must be or must + infinitive: To say we are almost sure something is true about the present.
• Must have + past participle: To say that we are almost sure something was true or happened in the past.
  • That must be an electric car.
  • You must have seen him.
• Can’t + infinitive: To say that we are almost sure that something isn’t true in the present.
• Can’t have/couldn’t have + past participle: To say something wasn’t true or didn’t happen in the past.
  • They can’t be playing very well.
  • You can’t/couldn’t have spent very long on this essay.
• May/might/could + infinitive: To say it’s possible that something is true in the present.
• May/might/could have + past participle: It’s possible that something was true or happened in the past.
  • He may/might/could be off sick.
  • Do you think someone may/might/could have taken them?
• Should/ought to + infinitive: To describe a situation we expect to happen.
• Should have/ought to have + past participle: To describe a situation we would expect to have happened in the past.
  • If I post the letter today, it should/ought to arrive on Friday.
  • It should/ought to have arrived by now.

Adjectives and Adverbs for Speculation

• Bound/sure + to + infinitive: To say that we think something is certain to be true or to happen (adjective).
  • He’s bound/sure to be here in a minute. He left an hour ago.
• Subject + be likely/unlikely + to + infinitive or it is likely/unlikely + that + clause (adjective).
  • I think she’s likely/unlikely to agree to our proposal.
  • It is likely/unlikely that the government will raise interest rates this year.
• Auxiliary verb + definitely/probably + main verb (adverb).
  • She’ll definitely pass the exam. She definitely won’t pass the exam.
  • He’ll probably be here around 8:00. He probably won’t be here until about 8:15.