certain
gb/sˈɚtən/ us/sˈɚtən/
B1
Kiingereza
~ 500
biztos, bizonyos, elkerülhetetlen
B1
1
biztos
A2
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone] is certain (that) [clause]
I’m certain we left the keys on the table.
Biztos vagyok benne, hogy az asztalon hagytuk a kulcsokat.
She’s certain that she saw him at the party.
Biztos benne, hogy látta őt a bulin.
Are you certain this is the right address?
He seemed certain of his decision.
They are certain it will rain tomorrow.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
I am certain this is my bag.
Biztos vagyok benne, hogy ez az én táskám.
She is certain she can help.
Biztos benne, hogy tud segíteni.
He is certain they will come.
We are certain about our choice.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'certain' with 'sure' and overuse one form; 'certain' is slightly more formal than 'sure'.
Maana
Sure about something
Miunganiko ya maneno
absolutely certain
|quite certain
|certain about
|certain that
Visawe
sure (Slightly more common in everyday conversation, especially in American English.)
Vinyume
uncertain (Indicates doubt or lack of confidence about something.)
Mada
emotions
|communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
Feeling sure that something is true or will happen.
Confident and sure that something is true or will happen.
B2
2
bizonyos
B1
Muundo wa matumizi:
a certain [person/thing/place]
A certain man called while you were out.
Egy bizonyos férfi keresett, amíg nem voltál itt.
We need a certain amount of time to finish.
A befejezéshez bizonyos mennyiségű időre van szükségünk.
There’s a certain charm to old houses.
She spoke with a certain authority.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
A certain boy is waiting outside.
Egy bizonyos fiú vár odakint.
We need a certain tool for this job.
Ehhez a munkához egy bizonyos szerszámra van szükségünk.
There is a certain smell in this room.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners may mistakenly think 'a certain' means 'any' rather than 'a specific but unnamed'.
Maana
Specific but unnamed
Miunganiko ya maneno
a certain amount
|a certain type
|a certain way
Visawe
particular (Emphasizes individuality or specificity; often interchangeable but 'particular' may sound more formal.)
Vinyume
unspecified (Indicates that no specific person or thing is meant.)
Mada
communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
Used to talk about a specific person or thing without giving details.
Referring to a specific person, thing, or group without saying exactly which one.
B2
3
biztos
A2
Failure was certain if they didn’t act quickly.
Ha nem cselekedtek gyorsan, elkerülhetetlen volt a kudarc.
With this plan, success is almost certain.
Ezzel a tervvel a siker szinte biztos.
His injury made defeat certain.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
Rain is certain tomorrow.
Holnap biztosan esni fog.
Victory was certain for the team.
A csapat számára biztos volt a győzelem.
It is certain we will meet again.
Maana
Inevitable or guaranteed
Miunganiko ya maneno
certain death
|certain victory
|certain success
Visawe
inevitable (Formal and emphasizes impossibility of avoiding something.)
Vinyume
uncertain (Implies that the outcome is not guaranteed.)
Mada
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
Something that will definitely happen.
Sure to happen; unavoidable.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
certain
IPA
GB/sˈɚtən/
US/sˈɚtən/
Silabi na mkazo
cer - tain (silabi 2)
Stress on 1st syllable (cer)
Maumbo ya neno
Adjective
- Base: certain
Familia ya neno
Semi
a certain amount of
1/ə sˈɚtən əmˈaʊnt əv/
fixed phrase
Specific but unspecified quantity
Some amount, but not said exactly how much.
Mifano
- There’s a certain amount of risk involved.
- The job requires a certain amount of skill.
for certain
1/fɚ sˈɚtən/
fixed phrase
Without any doubt
Knowing something completely and without any doubt.
Mifano
- I know for certain that she was there.
- We can’t say for certain what happened.
to make certain
1/tə mˈeɪk sˈɚtən/
fixed phrase
Ensure something happens or is true
To do something so that you are sure it will happen or is correct.
Mifano
- Please make certain all the doors are locked.
- I checked twice to make certain we had enough tickets.