certain

確信している、確かな

本当だと疑いなく信じている、または本当だとはっきり分かっている。

やさしい英語で： 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.

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

類義語： sure, confident, definite

反対語： uncertain, doubtful

よく使う表現： certain of something, absolutely certain, certain that, quite certain

確実な、避けられない

必ず起こると分かっている。

やさしい英語で： Definitely going to happen.

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

使い方： 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.)

類義語： guaranteed, inevitable, assured

反対語： uncertain

よく使う表現： certain victory, certain death, certain to win

確かな、確実な

「make certain」で、事実を確かめたり、必要なことが確実に起こるようにすること。

やさしい英語で： 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.

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

よく使う表現： make certain, make certain of, make certain that

定まった、一定の

変わったり未定だったりせず、すでに決まっている。

やさしい英語で： 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.

類義語： fixed, definite, determinate

反対語： variable, indeterminate

よく使う表現： certain intervals, certain period, certain amount

ある、特定の

どれかを具体的に言わずに、ある人や物を指す。

やさしい英語で： 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.

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

類義語： some, particular

よく使う表現： certain people, certain conditions, a certain person, certain details

一部、何人か

どれかは言わずに、集団の中の何人かや一部の物を指す。

やさしい英語で： 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.

使い方： certain of + plural noun/pronoun (Certain of the members opposed the proposal.)

類義語： some

よく使う表現： certain of them, certain of us, certain among them