certain

sicuro, certo

Senza dubbi sulla verità di qualcosa, oppure riconosciuto come vero senza alcun dubbio.

In inglese semplice: Feeling no doubt that something is true, or known to be true without doubt.

• I am certain she is right.
• Are you certain about the date?
• Only one fact was certain: the door had been locked.

Come si usa: be certain of/about something (Are you certain of the answer?); be certain that… (I am certain that she told the truth.)

Sinonimi: sure, confident, definite

Contrari: uncertain, doubtful

Espressioni comuni: certain of something, absolutely certain, certain that, quite certain

certo, inevitabile

Che accadrà sicuramente.

In inglese semplice: Definitely going to happen.

• Their victory seemed certain.
• You are certain to enjoy the show.
• Without help, the climbers faced certain death.

Come si usa: be certain to do something (Prices are certain to rise.); be certain of something (The team is certain of a place in the final.); it is certain that… (It is certain that the event will attract a crowd.)

Sinonimi: guaranteed, inevitable, assured

Contrari: uncertain

Espressioni comuni: certain victory, certain death, certain to win

sicuro, certo

In «make certain», controllare che qualcosa sia vero o assicurarsi che avvenga come necessario.

In inglese semplice: In “make certain”, to check that something is true or arrange for something to happen as needed.

• Make certain the door is locked.
• She called to make certain of the time.
• We made certain that everyone had a seat.

Come si usa: make certain of something (Make certain of the address before you leave.); make certain that… (Make certain that all the windows are closed.)

Espressioni comuni: make certain, make certain of, make certain that

fisso, determinato

Già fissato o deciso, senza variazioni o incertezze.

In inglese semplice: Fixed or decided, rather than changing or left unknown.

• The payments fall due at certain intervals.
• The agreement sets a certain period for repayment.
• A certain amount was payable each month under the old contract.

Sinonimi: fixed, definite, determinate

Contrari: variable, indeterminate

Espressioni comuni: certain intervals, certain period, certain amount

certi, alcuni

Indica persone o cose particolari senza precisare esattamente quali.

In inglese semplice: Some particular people or things, without saying exactly which ones.

• Certain foods make me feel ill.
• The rule applies only in certain cases.
• A certain person has been asking about you.

Come si usa: certain + plural noun (Certain plants need very little water.); a certain + singular noun (A certain neighbour keeps complaining.)

Sinonimi: some, particular

Espressioni comuni: certain people, certain conditions, a certain person, certain details

alcuni, certi

Alcune persone o cose di un gruppo, senza specificare quali.

In inglese semplice: Some people or things from a group, without saying exactly which ones.

• Certain of them refused to sign.
• Certain of the documents have been lost.
• The witnesses gave statements, of which certain were later withdrawn.

Come si usa: certain of + plural noun/pronoun (Certain of the members opposed the proposal.)

Sinonimi: some

Espressioni comuni: certain of them, certain of us, certain among them