certain

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/ˈsɝtən/
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Sure or known beyond doubt, likely enough to be treated as inevitable, or particular and limited without being named exactly.
Practice using certain in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Certain of the older rules still apply.
  • The candidate was heading for certain defeat.
  • Certain of the applicants lacked the required experience.
  • The new fee is certain to raise costs.
  • I am certain that I locked the back door.

Similar words

definite
inevitable
assured
positive
part
confident
unnamed
a few
bound
guaranteed

Meanings

Free from doubt

adjective
certainty
neutral
Sure in the mind, or known and accepted as true, correct, or beyond serious doubt.

Usage

Use certain for firm confidence or established truth, often with that, of, about, or a question word.

Examples

  • I am certain that I locked the back door.
  • The scientists are certain of the result.
  • No one is certain how the fire started.
  • One thing is certain: the budget must change.
  • She felt certain about her decision.
  • The cause of the error is not yet certain.

Common mistakes

The linking verb is dropped, and the wrong preposition is used after the adjective.
IncorrectCorrect
I certain that the file is saved. I am certain that the file is saved.
She is certain with the answer. She is certain about the answer.
We are certain for his innocence. We are certain of his innocence.
It certain that the door was locked. It is certain that the door was locked.

Similar words

sure
confident
positive
convinced
settled
indisputable
known

Sure to happen

adjective
probability
neutral
Extremely likely or inevitable, with the result treated as beyond realistic doubt.

Usage

Use certain with to for expected events and with nouns such as defeat, success, or death when the outcome seems unavoidable.

Examples

  • The decision is certain to anger local residents.
  • Victory looked certain after the early goals.
  • Without treatment, the crop faces almost certain failure.
  • The new fee is certain to raise costs.
  • After months of losses, closure seemed certain.
  • The candidate was heading for certain defeat.

Common mistakes

The infinitive pattern is replaced by a gerund or bare verb, and certain is used for weak probability.
IncorrectCorrect
The plan is certain succeed. The plan is certain to succeed.
Rain is certain falling tonight. Rain is certain to fall tonight.
A delay is certain maybe tomorrow. A delay is possible tomorrow.
The team is certain for win. The team is certain to win.

Similar words

inevitable
assured
unavoidable
destined
bound
guaranteed
sure

Particular but not named

adjective
reference
neutral
Used before a noun for particular people, things, amounts, degrees, or qualities that are not named exactly or are deliberately left vague.

Usage

Use certain before a noun when the group, amount, or quality is limited but not fully specified: certain foods, a certain charm, or to a certain extent.

Examples

  • Certain files must stay confidential.
  • The medicine can affect certain patients differently.
  • The old house has a certain charm.
  • Children under a certain age need an adult ticket.
  • The proposal works only under certain conditions.
  • To a certain extent, both sides were right.

Common mistakes

The article is misplaced with singular nouns, and certain is used when sure is needed for confidence.
IncorrectCorrect
Certain reason changed my mind. A certain reason changed my mind.
A certain people dislike the plan. Certain people dislike the plan.
I am certain people will agree. Certain people will agree.
She is a certain about the date. She is certain about the date.

Similar words

particular
specific
some
selected
limited
definite
unnamed

Some particular ones

pronoun
reference
formal
Some members of a group, referred to without naming exactly which ones.

Usage

Use certain as a formal pronoun in the pattern certain of plus a plural group, and use a plural verb when the group is plural.

Examples

  • Certain of the applicants lacked the required experience.
  • Certain of his letters were never published.
  • Certain of them refused to sign the agreement.
  • Certain of the older rules still apply.
  • Certain of those details remain secret.
  • Certain of the witnesses remembered the car clearly.

Common mistakes

The required of is omitted, and singular verb agreement is used with plural groups.
IncorrectCorrect
Certain the guests left early. Certain of the guests left early.
Certain of the answers is wrong. Certain of the answers are wrong.
A certain of the files are missing. Certain of the files are missing.
Certain of my friend knows the address. Certain of my friends know the address.

Similar words

some
several
a few
part
selected ones
particular ones

Usage

Use certain for confidence or established truth, certain to for expected outcomes, and certain before a noun for a limited but unnamed person, thing, amount, or quality.

Common mistakes

I certain drops the verb, certain to is needed before an infinitive, and a certain is singular while bare certain usually introduces plurals.

Etymology

From Middle English certeyn, from Old French certain, ultimately from Latin certus, meaning fixed, settled, or decided. The same root also gives certify and certainty.

FAQ

What does certain mean?

Certain can mean sure or known beyond doubt, sure to happen, or particular but not named exactly.

What does certain to happen mean?

Certain to happen means extremely likely or treated as inevitable.

What does a certain mean before a noun?

A certain points to a particular person, thing, amount, or quality without naming it exactly.

Is certain the same as sure?

They overlap, but certain often sounds more evidence-based or more formal than sure.

Can certain be a pronoun?

Yes. In formal use, certain of means some particular members of a group, as in certain of them.

What are opposites of certain?

Opposites include uncertain, unsure, doubtful, questionable, and, for the limited sense, all or every.

Comments & contributions

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Rustic Osprey
Jul 13
certain death is such a dramatic phrase for a normal little adjective lol
0
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Contribution
Velvet Goose
Jul 12
One small noun thing: "a certain experience" usually sounds like one event, like a strange experience. If you mean skill or background, go with "some experience" or "a certain amount of experience". Learners mix that one up a lot.
2
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Copper Badger
Jul 11
Certain of the applicants is grammatical, but it is paperwork English. In a normal chat I would almost always write some of the applicants. I wouldnt teach it as everyday speech.
1
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Solid Snail
Jun 26
Before a name, a certain can be kind of coy. If someone writes "a certain Dr Khan called again", the person is named, but the writer is acting like the reader may not know them, or like they dont want to spell out the whole story.
3
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Rustic Hippo
Jun 24
for certain deserves its own mental box. You can say "I don't know for certain" or "no one can say for certain", but "I don't know certain" is not English.
4
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Hardy Nightingale
Jun 26
same with make certain, it is basically check or ensure. Make certain the door is locked sounds a bit old-fashioned maybe, but normal.
0
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Autumn Dolphin
Jun 15
big learner trap is treating certain like just a fancy sure. In conversation I'd say "I'm sure" ten times before "I'm certain". "Are you certain?" can sound like you're asking for proof, not just checking.
7
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Dapper Puma
Jun 22
yeah, and in the US "sure" by itself can just mean yes. "Certain" cant do that at all
1
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