SURE/NOT SURE
POSSSLE
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see also
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support /S3'p:rt/ [n U] the help and
encouragement that you give to someone when you want them to succeed: I couldn't have finished my degree idthouf the support of my family. + for the growing support for Greenpeace in Australia and New Zealand
KNOW/ NOT KNOW
when you feel sure about something
PROBABLY
sure Jo3r [adj not before noun] if you are sure about something, you feel that it is almost certainly true or correct+ (that) You ue worked so hard, I'm sure you'll do well in your exams. I Are you quite sure that he understood your instructions?
+ about/oj I think children are influenced by these films, but it's impossible to be sure about this, feel sure I'm surprised she isn't here - I felt sure she would come.
A Don't say 'it is sure', Say I'm sure: I'm sure that the food will be nice.
certain 's3:rtn/ [adj not before noun] completely sure that something is true + (that) Are you absolutely certain you didn't leaue your keys at home? + about/of She won't let you borrow the car - I'm certain of that.
/hi Don't say 'very certain'. Say quite certain or absolutely certain: We're quite certain that Hayes is guilty.
convinced /kan'vinst/ [adj not before
noun] sure that something is true, even if you have no information to support this belief
+ (that) We've had no news of him, but we're convinced he's still alive. I She became convinced that her boyfriend was seeing someone else. + of Brotun's wife was convinced of his innocence.
A
Don't say 'very convinced'. Say
completely/absolutely convinced: She
seems absolutely convinced that she's going to fail.
Opositive /'pDZ"tiv||'pa:-/ [adj not before
noun] especially spokeis completely sure that something is true - use this especially when other people are saying it might not be true: "Are you sure you locked the door?" "Yes, I'm positive + (that) She said she was positive the exam was next Tuesday.
confident /'kDnfJ,d<?nt||'ka:n-, [adj not before noun] sure that something good will happen, or that you will be able to achieve what you want: They asked Cantona about tomorrow's game, and he seems very confident. + (that) Doctors are confident that he'll make a full recovery.
Qf bet I ai bet/ spoken informal say this when you feel sure that something is true: + (that) I bet you're tired after such a long journey. I I bet she hasn 't told her parents about this.
Qmust mAstI [modal uerb] especially spoken if you say that something must be true or must have happened, you are sure about it, because of information you have or things you have noticed which make it seem very likely: They must be hautng а party next door, judging by all the cars parked outside.
must have Kim didn't answer when I called - she must have gone to bed. I The lights aren't working - there must have been a power cut.
The opposite of must in this meaning is can't. Use can't to say you are sure that something is not true or has not happened: She can't have gone to bed yet - it's only 8 o'clock (=1 am sure that she has not gone to bed).
when something is definitely true and there are no doubts at all
certainly/de/initely /s3irtnli, 'defmitli, 1 defend t J i/ [adv} use this to emphasize that something is definitely true, especially when other people think that it might not be: I'm sorry if I upset you. I certainly didn't mean to I We don't know exactly when the house was built, but it's certainly over
100 years old. I I definitely posted the
cheque last week, so it should have arrived by now.
certainly not/definitely not "Would you accept less than a thousand for it?" "No, definitely not."
Qsurely /'Joali/ [adv] especially spoken use this to emphasize that you think something must be true, and you are asking someone else to agree with you: Surely, he must have realized that the money was stolen. I Surely your car is worth more than £1000, isn't it?
there is no doubt /(teanznao'daot/use
737
SURE/NOT SURE
this to say that, in your opinion, something is definitely true + (that) There is no doubt that smoking contributed to Margaret's heart attack.
when something will definitely happen
certainly/definitely s3:rtnli, defin^ili
'def>nJ,tli [adv] use this to say that you are completely sure that something will happen or that someone will do something: Brad and Andy are certainly coming to the party, but I don't know about Bob. I We'll definitely be back by 7 o'clock. I Gascoigne is injured and will definitely miss the game on Saturday.
certain /'S3irtn/ [adj not usually before noun) if something is certain, you believe it will definitely happen: Computer prices will continue to jail - that's certain. it is certain (that) It's now almost certain that the President will resign.
certain death/failure/disaster etc (=when
something very bad is definitely going to happen) He was alone on the mountain, his leg broken, facing almost certain death.
definite /'define, 'defon^t/ [adjl something that is definite has been agreed or decided, and it is certain that it will happen: I think I have a good chance of getting the job, but it's not definite yet.
A Definite is used especially in questions or negative sentences.
be sure to do sth/be certain to
do Sth /bi: '|иэг ta dur (sth), bi: 's3:rtn ts du: (sth)/ use this to say that you strongly believe that something will happen, because of what you know about the situation: Drivers heading for the coast are certain to face long delays this weekend. I There's sure to be someone that you know at the party.