certain

sûr, certain

Qui ne doute pas de la vérité de quelque chose, ou dont la vérité ne fait aucun doute.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : be certain of/about something (Are you certain of the answer?); be certain that… (I am certain that she told the truth.)

Synonymes : sure, confident, definite

Contraires : uncertain, doubtful

Expressions courantes : certain of something, absolutely certain, certain that, quite certain

certain, inévitable

Qui va se produire sans aucun doute.

En anglais simple : Definitely going to happen.

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

Comment l'utiliser : 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.)

Synonymes : guaranteed, inevitable, assured

Contraires : uncertain

Expressions courantes : certain victory, certain death, certain to win

sûr, certain

Dans « make certain », vérifier un fait ou veiller à ce que quelque chose se passe comme prévu.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : make certain of something (Make certain of the address before you leave.); make certain that… (Make certain that all the windows are closed.)

Expressions courantes : make certain, make certain of, make certain that

fixe, déterminé

Qui est établi ou décidé, sans varier ni rester indéterminé.

En anglais simple : 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.

Synonymes : fixed, definite, determinate

Contraires : variable, indeterminate

Expressions courantes : certain intervals, certain period, certain amount

certains, certaines

Désigne des personnes ou des choses particulières sans préciser lesquelles.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : certain + plural noun (Certain plants need very little water.); a certain + singular noun (A certain neighbour keeps complaining.)

Synonymes : some, particular

Expressions courantes : certain people, certain conditions, a certain person, certain details

certains, certaines

Une partie des personnes ou des choses d’un groupe, sans préciser lesquelles.

En anglais simple : 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.

Comment l'utiliser : certain of + plural noun/pronoun (Certain of the members opposed the proposal.)

Synonymes : some

Expressions courantes : certain of them, certain of us, certain among them