certain

seguro, cierto

Sin dudas sobre la verdad de algo, o cuya verdad se conoce sin dudas.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

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

Sinónimos: sure, confident, definite

Antónimos: uncertain, doubtful

Expresiones frecuentes: certain of something, absolutely certain, certain that, quite certain

seguro, inevitable

Que va a ocurrir sin ninguna duda.

En inglés sencillo: Definitely going to happen.

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

Cómo se 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.)

Sinónimos: guaranteed, inevitable, assured

Antónimos: uncertain

Expresiones frecuentes: certain victory, certain death, certain to win

seguro

En «make certain», comprobar que algo es verdad o asegurarse de que ocurra como debe.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

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

Expresiones frecuentes: make certain, make certain of, make certain that

fijo, determinado

Que está establecido o decidido y no cambia ni queda por determinar.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

Sinónimos: fixed, definite, determinate

Antónimos: variable, indeterminate

Expresiones frecuentes: certain intervals, certain period, certain amount

ciertos, determinados

Se refiere a personas o cosas concretas sin indicar exactamente cuáles.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

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

Sinónimos: some, particular

Expresiones frecuentes: certain people, certain conditions, a certain person, certain details

algunos, algunas

Algunas personas o cosas de un grupo, sin especificar cuáles.

En inglés sencillo: 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.

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

Sinónimos: some

Expresiones frecuentes: certain of them, certain of us, certain among them