certain

英 ['sɜːtn] 美 ['sɜːrtn]

• adj. 确定的；肯定的；某事；某人；某种；（与人名连用；表示不认识此人）一位叫...；特定的；轻微的；微小的
• pron. 某些；某几个

双解释义

adj. (形容词)

1. [P]无疑的,肯定的

   without any doubt; sure

2. [A]某,某些

   one or some that can be named

详尽释义

adj. 形容词

1. 肯定的，一定会的
2. 确定的
3. 某，某种，某些
4. 确信的
5. 确凿的，无疑的，可靠的，有把握的
6. 某种程度的
7. 确实的
8. 可靠的

pron. 代词

1. 某些，某几个，某个

adv. 副词

1. 一定，确实地

英英释义

Adjective:

1. definite but not specified or identified;

   "set aside a certain sum each week"
   "to a certain degree"
   "certain breeds do not make good pets"
   "certain members have not paid their dues"
   "a certain popular teacher"
   "a certain Mrs. Jones"
   

2. having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured;

   "felt certain of success"
   "was sure (or certain) she had seen it"
   "was very sure in his beliefs"
   "sure of her friends"
   

3. established beyond doubt or question; definitely known;

   "what is certain is that every effect must have a cause"
   "it is certain that they were on the bus"
   "his fate is certain"
   "the date for the invasion is certain"
   

4. certain to occur; destined or inevitable;

   "he was certain to fail"
   "his fate is certain"
   "In this life nothing is certain but death and taxes"
   "he faced certain death"
   "sudden but sure regret"
   "he is sure to win"
   

5. established irrevocably;

   "his fate is sealed"
   

6. reliable in operation or effect;

   "a quick and certain remedy"
   "a sure way to distinguish the two"
   "wood dust is a sure sign of termites"
   

7. exercising or taking care great enough to bring assurance;

   "be certain to disconnect the iron when you are through"
   "be sure to lock the doors"
   

例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

1. It's certain that every effect must have a cause.
   无疑，每个结果必定有其原因。
2. I can tell you for certain that I am always honest.
   我可以肯定地告诉你, 我一向是老实的。
3. Certain things are still open to discussion.
   有些事还需要商量。
4. A certain man will visit you tomorrow.
   明天某人将探访你。
5. For certain reasons I will be unable to attend the meeting.
   因为某种原因，我不能出席这次会议。
6. A certain Mr Brown telephoned while you were out.
   你出去的时候
7. To a certain extent, I'm in favor of your project.
   从某种程度上说,我赞成你的方案。
8. There was a certain coldness in her attitude towards me.
   她对我的态度有点儿冷淡。

用作代词 (pron.)

1. Certain of those present had had too much to drink.
   有些出席的人喝得太多了。

常见句型

用作形容词 (adj.)

用作定语

～+ n.

1. A certain person called on me yesterday.
   昨天有人来找过我。
2. A certain Mr. Brown telephoned while you were out.
   你出去的时候,有个叫布朗的先生来过电话。
3. The terrorists will only release their hostages on certain conditions.
   恐怖分子只有在某些条件下才肯释放人质。
4. There are certain forms that must be followed in diplomatic circles.
   在外交界有一些礼节是必须遵守的。
5. I am prepared to make certain concessions.
   我准备做某些让步。
6. There was a certain hesitation in her manner.
   她的态度有些犹豫不决。
7. If you want to be slim, you should try to lose a certain amount of weight every week.
   如果想变得苗条些的话,你应该想方设法每周减少点体重。
8. She has certain definite beauties, such as her eyes.
   她确有几分姿色,比如说她的眼睛。
9. There is no certain cure for this disease.
   这种病没有特效药。
10. They face certain death unless they can be rescued today.
    他们除非今天获救,否则必死无疑。
11. They went to a certain place.
    他们到某一个地方去了。
12. The club meets on certain days every month.
    俱乐部成员每月于某些天聚一次。

用作表语

S+be+～

1. His ear for music was certain.
   他对音乐的鉴赏力毋庸置疑。
2. That we should stay together was certain.
   我们应该呆在一起这是肯定的。
3. It is more or less certain.
   这有几分确定。
4. After the Boston Tea Party, war with England seemed certain.
   波士顿倾茶事件以后,与英国交战似乎是不可避免的。

S+be+～+to- v

1. We are certain to win the game.
   我们一定能打胜这场比赛。
2. He is certain to come.
   他一定会来。
3. The people of the afflicted areas are certain to need our help.
   灾区人民一定需要我们的帮助。
4. Spring is certain to follow winter.
   冬去春来。
5. The duties before you are certain to be heavy.
   摆在你面前的责任重大。
6. We are certain to be victorious.
   我们定会胜利。
7. The thief is certain to be caught in time.
   小偷迟早会被抓到的。
8. You are pretty certain to be seen by someone who knows you.
   你一定被认识你的人见到过。

S+be+～+(that/)wh-clause

1. I'm certain that he had seen me.
   我敢肯定他看见我了。
2. We are certain that he will get over his illness.
   我们相信他一定会战胜病魔的。
3. He is certain that this TV set will operate on batteries.
   他肯定这个电视机可以用电池。
4. Be certain you catch your train on time.
   务必准时赶上火车。
5. I'm certain I put the book on the table.
   我肯定是把书放在桌子上。
6. I'm certain she saw me yesterday.
   我确信她昨天看到了我。
7. I was certain I'd found you here if you were still in existence.
   我确信如果你还活着的话,我会在这儿找到你。
8. I am not certain who he is.
   我无法确切说出他是谁。
9. I'm not certain when we start off.
   我拿不准我们何时动身。
10. I'm not certain where this ought to be put.
    我不能确定这东西该放在什么地方。

It is/was+～+to- v

1. It is certain to rain.
   (我们相信)天一定会下雨。

It is/was+～+(that/)wh-clause

1. It is now certain that he won the election.
   他在本次选举中获胜现在确定无疑。
2. It seems certain that our team will win the prize.
   看来我们队有得奖的把握。
3. It is certain he will come to the discussion.
   他肯定会来参加讨论。
4. It is not yet certain who will succeed him.
   谁来接他的班还未确定。
5. It is not certain when it will take place.
   不能确定这事什么时候会发生。

经典引文

• Payment of money on a day certain.

  出自： H. J. Stephen

• The fixed and certain oak.

  出自： J. Arlott

常用短语

用作形容词 (adj.)

certain of

一群中的某些 some particular members of a group of people

for certain

无疑地,确定地 without doubt

make certain

弄清楚 inquire in order to be sure about sth

make certain of

采取行动以便确有把握做其他事 do sth in order to be sure of (doing) sth else

词汇搭配

用作形容词 (adj.)

～+名词

• certain circumstance 某种情况
• certain extent 一定程度上
• certain reason 某种理由
• certain year 某年

副词+～

• absolutely certain 绝对肯定
• almost certain 几乎可以肯定的
• nearly certain 几乎可以肯定的
• pretty certain 肯定的
• quite certain 相当有把握的
• totally certain 完全确信

动词+～

• make certain 弄清楚〔明白,确实〕,落实
• make certain of the date of the meeting 把开会的日期弄清楚

～+动词不定式

• certain to come 一定来
• certain to happen 一定要发生的
• certain to start 一定发生

～+介词

• certain about 确信,深信,相信
• certain of 确信,深信,相信
• certain of success 肯定会成功

词语用法

1. certain表示“某个，某些”时，作形容词或代词，如a certain friend of his或certain of his；
2. certain作形容词表示“一些”时，常修饰抽象名词，如a certain hesitation，a certain coldness；
3. 区别certain和sure：两者后面都可跟of，不定式或that从句。certain比sure语气来的更重。It is certain that...比It is sure that...更为普遍。

   I am certain/sure of his honesty.
   I am certain/sure to see him tomorrow.

4. certian of和certain to do表示不同的意思。

   He is certain to come tomorrow.
   他明天一定来。

   He is certain of coming tomorrow.
   他相信他明天一定来。

5. certain作形容词指“确定的”时，后面接的介词about可省略。

   I am not certain (about) where he lives.
   我不太确定他住在哪里。

6. for certain表示“肯定的，无疑的”，属于固定词组。

adj. (形容词)

1. certain的基本意思是“确信无疑的”或“毋庸置疑的”,即“肯定的,确信的”,在句中常用作表语。其后可接动词不定式,表示“相信(某人)会做某事”。
2. certain的另一个意思是“某一,某种”,在句中只能用作定语,常与不定冠词a连用,修饰单、复数名词或抽象名词,表示“因故而未加具体说明的人、物、地点、时间等”。
3. be certain用于祈使句,意思是“一定要设法办到…”。
4. It is/was certain that...表示说话人的看法，其中certain 不可用certainly或sure代替。在否定句中,多接以疑问词whether,what,how等引导的从句。
5. certain前不能用very或extremely修饰,如需强调可用absolutely或completely等词修饰。
6. 短语动词make certain的意思是“弄确实,弄清楚”,其后可接of引起的动名词短语或that从句。

词义辨析

adj. (形容词)

(a) certain, some

• 这两者都有“某一,某些”的意思。
• 1.some侧重于表示对某人或某物一无所知; 而a certain则多用于对某人或某物知而不详或知而不言。
• 2.some可与or, or other, or another等笼统的词连用; a certain则可与姓氏连用。
• 3.some经常含有不在乎、不感兴趣、轻蔑,甚至不赞成、不喜欢的意思; (a) certain则一般不带或少带感情色彩。
• 4.a certain还可和抽象名词连用,暗示说话者该用什么词来表达心里的想法拿不太准,在许多情况下,那个选出来的词有点不达意、不寻常,用a certain有助于削弱该词的奇特程度。

be certain to-v, be certain of v-ing

• be certain to- v 意思是“肯定会做某事”,指将要发生某事; be certain of v -ing意思是“觉得肯定要做某事”,指某人的自我看法。
• He is certain to succeed.
• 他一定会成功。(是别人对他的估计)
• He is certain of succeeding.
• 他有把握成功。(是他对自己的信心)

certain, positive, sure

• 这三个词都表示“肯定的”“确信的”,但所表示的程度有所不同。
• 1.certain强调有充分的根据,或自己直接所知道的事情的真相。
• 2.sure强调主观上怀有强烈的愿望或心里没有疑虑。例如:
• I'm sure we'll start on time.我想我们能及时出发。
• 3.positive比sure和certain更加肯定,强调对自己所说的话或所下的结论的正确性深信不疑,常常表现出过分的自信或主观武断。例如:
• I am positive that I saw this man before.我肯定我以前见过此人。
• As I can't be certain,I won't be positive.在我不肯定时,我不想武断。
• 4.名词性从句作主语时,一般不用sure,而用certain。

I am certain,I am sure

• I am certain比I am sure语气强,前者指“不容置疑的”“确实已成为事实的”,后者指很强的“愿望”“深信”，但是I am not certain与I am not sure意思相同。例如:
• I am certain that he has left—I saw him go out.
• 我肯定他已走了——我看见他出去了。
• I am sure that they'll win the game this time.
• 我肯定这次比赛他们一定赢。
• 我不能确定她是否过得幸福。
• I am not certain if she is happy.
• I am not sure if she is happy.

sure，certain，definite，positive

• 这些形容词均含“无疑的，确信的”之意。
• sure侧重主观上对某事确信无疑。
• certain与sure同义，但语气比sure强，着重指有确切理由或不容置疑的证据所支持的确信。
• definite指已毫无怀疑的余地。
• positive语气强烈，指对自己的看法或作的结论的正确性有不可动摇的信念。

词源解说

• ☆ 1300年左右进入英语，直接源自古法语的certain；最初源自拉丁语的certus，意为确定的。

近反义词

【近义词】

• absolute
• confident
• convinced
• express
• particular
• positive
• reliable
• settled
• special
• sure

【反义词】

• disputable
• doubtful
• questionable
• uncertain
• unclear
• unconvinced
• unfounded
• unlikely
• unreliable
• unsettled
• unsure