1. P 无疑的，肯定的　 without any doubt; sure
2. A 某，某些　 one or some that can be named

　～ circumstance　某种情况
　～ extent　一定程度上
　～ reason　某种理由
　～ year　某年
　absolutely ～　绝对肯定
　almost ～　几乎可以肯定的
　nearly ～　几乎可以肯定的
　pretty ～　肯定的
　quite ～　相当有把握的
　totally ～　完全确信
　make ～　弄清楚〔明白，确实〕，落实
　make ～ of the date of the meeting　把开会的日期弄清楚
　～ to come　一定来
　～ to happen　一定要发生的
　～ to start　一定发生
　～ about　确信，深信，相信
　～ of　确信，深信，相信
　～ of success　肯定会成功

　A certain person called on me yesterday.　昨天有人来找过我。
　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。
　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。
　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。
　I am prepared to make certain concessions.　我准备做某些让步。
　There was a certain hesitation in her manner.　她的态度有些犹豫不决。
　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。
　She has certain definite beauties, such as her eyes.　她确有几分姿色，比如说她的眼睛。
　There is no certain cure for this disease.　这种病没有特效药。
　They face certain death unless they can be rescued today.　他们除非今天获救，否则必死无疑。
　They went to a certain place.　他们到某一个地方去了。
　The club meets on certain days every month.　俱乐部成员每月于某些天聚一次。
　His ear for music was certain.　他对音乐的鉴赏力毋庸置疑。
　That we should stay together was certain.　我们应该呆在一起这是肯定的。
　It is more or less certain.　这有几分确定。
　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。
　We are certain to win the game.　我们一定能打胜这场比赛。
　He is certain to come.　他一定会来。
　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。
　Spring is certain to follow winter.　冬去春来。
　The duties before you are certain to be heavy.　摆在你面前的责任重大。
　We are certain to be victorious.　我们定会胜利。
　The thief is certain to be caught in time.　小偷迟早会被抓到的。
　You are pretty certain to be seen by someone who knows you.　你一定被认识你的人见到过。
　I'm certain that he had seen me.　我敢肯定他看见我了。
　We are certain that he will get over his illness.　我们相信他一定会战胜病魔的。
　He is certain that this TV set will operate on batteries.　他肯定这个电视机可以用电池。
　Be certain you catch your train on time.　务必准时赶上火车。
　I'm certain I put the book on the table.　我肯定是把书放在桌子上。
　I'm certain she saw me yesterday.　我确信她昨天看到了我。
　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。
　I am not certain who he is.　我无法确切说出他是谁。
　I'm not certain when we start off.　我拿不准我们何时动身。
　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 certain to rain.　（我们相信）天一定会下雨。
　It is now certain that he won the election.　他在本次选举中获胜现在确定无疑。
　It seems certain that our team will win the prize.　看来我们队有得奖的把握。
　It is certain he will come to the discussion.　他肯定会来参加讨论。
　It is not yet certain who will succeed him.　谁来接他的班还未确定。
　It is not certain when it will take place.　不能确定这事什么时候会发生。

 ♣ certain of
1. 确信 completely sure
　He felt quite certain of success.　他感到相当有把握成功。
　He is perfectly certain of it.　他完全相信那件事。
　He was too certain of her love to be deceived by such talk.　他确信她的爱情，因而不会被这种闲话所欺骗。
　I was too certain of her coming to send for her.　我相信她定然会来，故没打发人去请她。
2. 一群中的某些 some particular members of a group of people
　Certain of those present had drunk too much.　有些出席的人喝得太多了。
 ♣ for certain
　无疑地，确定地　without doubt
　I couldn't say for certain when he'll arrive.　我说不准他什么时候到。
　Uncle Judy said he would give us his decision for certain next week.　朱狄叔叔说了，他下个星期一定给我们作出决定。
 ♣ make certain
　弄清楚　inquire in order to be sure about sth
　I think there's a train at 8:20 but you ought to make certain.　我想8点20分有一班火车，不过你应该打听清楚。
　Make certain what time the train goes.　务必弄清火车发车时间。
 ♣ 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
　You'd better leave now if you want to make certain of getting there on time.　你想准时到达那里就最好马上走。
　To make certain of getting good seats, we hurried off to the cinema.　为了弄到好位子，我们匆忙动身去电影院。

 ♣ (a) certain, some
　参见some条。
 ♣ 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。

 ♣ 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：

　［同义词］ absolute, confident, convinced, express, particular, positive, reliable, settled, special, sure
　［反义词］ disputable, doubtful, questionable, uncertain, unclear, unconvinced, unfounded, unlikely, unreliable, unsettled, unsure
　［词源］　古法语和古拉丁语certus（确定）