| 释义 |
■ sure作为形容词，它的基本意义比较单纯，就是“可靠”、“肯定”。但是由于搭配的不同，在用法和意义上产生细微的差别。 1) 作为表语，后面不增添任何附加成分，表示“（对当前正在谈论的事）深信不疑”。 - He'll win, I'm sure.他一定会赢，我可以肯定。
- How can you be so sure?你怎么能这样肯定？
- What makes you so sure?你凭什么这样肯定？
- You seem convinced, but I'm not sure.看样子你是确信的，我却不能肯定。
2) 作为表语，后面增添 about + 指事物的定指名词，表示“（对某一问题或事项）有定见或把握”。 - I like it, but I'm not too sure about the colour.我喜欢这个，但是对颜色我拿不准。
- Are you sure about that?你对此能肯定吗？
- She isn't sure about her feelings for him.她对自己对他是什么感情拿不准。
如果 about 后面是人，就表示对某人信得过。 - He's not quite sure about Edward.他对爱德华不那么放心。
3) 作为表语，后面增添 of + 定指名词，表示“确信（某事）为真”。 - Are you sure of your facts?你确信你说的都是事实吗？
- I'm sure of one thing: he's a liar.我有一点可以肯定：他是个撒谎的人。
- She isn't sure of her feelings for him.她对自己对他的感情没有把握。
- Once you've impressed these customers and they're sure of your credibility, they'll be much more likely to upgrade to a higher-priced membership level.你一打动了顾客，他们一对你的信誉产生信心，他们就更可能升级到价钱更高的会员层次去。
或者表示“业已查明”。 - Never buy something unless you're sure of the price elsewhere.除非查明了他处的价钱，否则千万别买什么东西。
如果是增添 of + oneself，就表示对自己很有信心。 - She's not so sure of herself these days.这几天她对自己信心不那么大了。
后面增添 of + 不定指名词，表示“自己确信一定会获得（某事物）”。 - You can be sure of good service in this restaurant.您光临本餐厅，肯定会得到优质的服务。
- They say they're sure of acquittal.他们说他们一定会获得无罪判决。
但有时也可以不是指主语本人确信而是说话者自己确信。 - At the party, you're sure of a hearty welcome.在招待会上，你一定会受到衷心的欢迎。
- The team is sure of victory.这一队一定会赢。
后面增添 of + -ing，则表示“自己确信自己一定如何”。 - I want to be sure of getting there on time.我想能有把握准时到达那里。
- They don't like to help out others, unless they're sure of getting something in return.他们不喜欢帮助别人，除非有把握得到某种回报。
4) 作为表语，后面增添间接问句，表示“对某问题的答案有把握”。 - He's not sure whether he's going to come or not.他拿不准来不来。
- They're not sure if they can come.他们拿不准能不能来。
5) 作为表语，后面增添 that 从句，表示“肯定相信某事为真”。 - I'm sure (that) you're right.我肯定你是对的。
- Be sure you have at least eight hours to devote to sleep.你要有把握至少有八小时用于睡眠（方可用此安眠药）。
表示否定（“不肯定相信某事为真”）时除了可以用 not 否定系动词 to be 之外，还可以用 un- 来否定 sure，此时后面可以用 that 从句，也可以用 if/whether 从句。 - He was unsure (that) the Army would discharge him in time for Christmas.他对军方会不会及时让他退役过圣诞节没有把握。
- He was unsure if he'd be able to fulfill the commitment to his friend.他向朋友许下的诺言，究竟能否兑现，他自己也拿不准。
6) 作为表语，后面增添 to + inf.，这个结构，在含义上比较特别。to be sure to inf. 的意义，要看主语是谁。不管如何，意义都是说话者自己表示有信心，肯定事情会如何如何。因此，如果 to be sure to inf. 的主语是第一人称，就是“我（我们）有信心肯定我（我们）自己必然如何”。 - I'm sure to make you laugh.我有把握把你们都逗笑。
而如果主语是第二或第三人称，就不是“你（你们）或他（他们）有信心肯定你（你们）或他（他们）自己必然如何”，而是“我有信心肯定你（你们）或他（他们）必然如何”。 - He is sure to win 与 He is sure of winning意义不同。
前者是“我肯定他一定会赢”(= I'm sure (that) he will win 或 It is certain that he will win 或（较罕用）It is sure that he will win)，后者是“他自己肯定自己一定会赢”。如果主语不是人，那就更加不可能是主语本身有信心。 - It is sure to rain.一定会下雨。
- ... Odierno's new mission is sure to be a lot harder than finding Saddam Hussein. (Newsweek, Jan. 8, 2007, p.27)…奥叠尔诺将军的新任务，肯定比找到萨达姆·侯赛因难得多。
再看一些例子。 - We have a lot of books you're sure to love.我们有许多您一定会喜欢的书（不是“您自己肯定”，是“我们肯定”）。
- At the beginning he's sure to be full of enthusiasm. After a while, however, his attention may wander.一开始时，他一定是兴致勃勃。但是，过了一阵，他的注意力就可能会开小差（不是“他自己预测”，是“我预测”）。
- Take a look at our menu and you're sure to find something to satisfy even the most powerful hunger.请看一眼我们的菜单，您一定会找到让最辘辘的饥肠得到满足的东西。
- If your children see you wearing a mask, they're sure to want to try it too.你的孩子们如果看见你戴着面罩，他们一定也想试试看。
- They're sure to get wet in the river.他们到了河里一定会弄湿。
7) 词组 be sure to inf. 如果放在祈使句中，就从说话者的断言转成为“你一定要做某事”的意思。 - Be sure to be on time tomorrow.明天一定要准时。
- Be sure to let me know.一定要告诉我。
- Be sure not to touch it.千万别碰它。
- Be sure to check yourselves.一定要检查身体。
- Be sure to back up all your priceless digital photos.你珍贵的数码照片，一定要备份。
- Be sure to unplug the humidifier before cleaning.加湿器清洗前一定要拔掉插销。
但是在实际应用中往往改成 be sure and inf.。 - Be sure and ask him about his garden.一定要问问他的花园搞得怎么样。
- Be sure and come home by five.千万五点钟以前要回到家（见 try and inf., go and inf.）。
另外，这个意思也可以用“Be sure you + 谓语动词（其实是虚拟式）”来表示。 - Be sure you get your daily quota of calcium.你一定要每天摄入足量的钙。
参考下面的 8) 。 8) 词组 make sure that 后面跟着从句（that 可以省略），有两个不同的意义： a) 积极的：注意采取某行动，或努力实现某一状态。 - Make sure that you follow the instructions carefully.你一定要仔细照说明去做。
- It is his job to make sure that everyone is satisfied.他的份内任务，就是要让人人满意。
- Made sure you're not late.注意千万不要迟到。
- The main thing now is to make sure that the alliance remains committed to this mission, which is important not only to Afghanistan but to our security in the West. (The Washington Post, Nov. 26, 2006)现在主要的事情是要确保同盟坚守这个使命，这不但对阿富汗，而且对于我们在西方的安全，都是重要的。
- The government is effectively conscripting private businesses into the war on terrorism but doing so without making sure that businesses don't trample on individual rights. (The Washington Post, March 27, 2007, D01)政府正在有效地搜罗私营企业参加反恐战争，但是这样做的时候，又没有设法确保企业不践踏个人权利。
- The state eventually cleared the school's administrators but made sure (that) last year's testing was monitored by an outside agency. (Newsweek, Oct. 15, 2007, p.41)州当局查明了该校管理人员没有（考试作弊）问题，但是安排了让去年的测验由外界的一个机构来监考。
这种用法，从句谓语动词可以是表示瞬时动作的第四类动词，也可以是表示延续状态的第一类动词，它的时态同实际时间不一致，形式上用一般现在或一般过去时，但实际上指的是将来或过去将来（在其他一些欧洲语言，这样的从句要用虚拟语气，但是英文可以不用）。 b) 消极的：不是自己做什么事，而是查明某一有利的情况确实存在（从句的谓语动词一定要是表示延续状态的第一类动词，或是用进行式来表示延续的第二类动词，它发生的时间同 make sure 的时间一致）。 - We made sure that no one was listening.我们明确了没有人在听着。
- He looked in the bathroom to make sure that he was alone.他往洗手间里面瞧了瞧，明确了没有旁人。
- Ask if you'll need periodic blood tests or other monitoring to make sure the drug is working properly.问一下你是否需要定期进行血液化验或其他监控，以明确药物正在生效。
- The doctor ordered that a set of x-rays be taken to make sure that the injuries to my ankle were not serious.医生吩咐进行一组 X 光透视，以明确我髁骨的损伤并不严重。
c) 从上面的 a) 和 b) 看来，如果 make sure that 后面从句的谓语动词是表示延续状态的，那么积极和消极两种可能都存在，要从上下文、语境和事理来判别，例如： - It is his job to make sure that everyone is satisfied.
既可以是“他的分内任务，就是要让人人满意”（任务尚未完成），也可以是“他的分内任务，就是要明确弄清楚人人都是满意的”（状态已经存在），但是后一种可能性不大符合常理。 9) 词组 make sure to inf. 同 be sure to inf. 差不多，也是表示“注意一定去做某事”。 - Make sure to speak with your doctor.一定要同您的医生谈一下。
10) sure 还可以作为副词，或加强语气，表示“的确”、“当然”，或表示让步。 - She sure is clever. 或 She's sure clever.她这个人真机灵。
- He sure likes to talk.他这个人真健谈。
- Sure she loves you.她当然是爱你的。
- Sure, he's a great guy, but...他这个人的确不错，不过…
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