surely
surely — adverb
1. used when you are very confident that a statement is true or that something will
used when you are very confident that a statement is true or that something will happen, and you expect other people to share that confidence
Surely Devika must have heard the news — everyone at work is talking about it.
surely + must (strong deduction)
If you practise every day, your piano playing will surely improve.
The train leaves at six, but surely we can make it if we go now.
With her track record, Kemi is surely the strongest candidate for this role.
- certainly
Stronger and more emphatic than 'surely'; does not seek agreement — it asserts
- undoubtedly
More formal and absolute; leaves no room for doubt or disagreement
- without doubt
More emphatic and less common in everyday speech; used for strong written assertions
文法句型
surely + modal verb
surely + will/can/must/should
用法筆記
Frequently pairs with modal verbs (must, should, can, will) to express a logical conclusion. The speaker uses 'surely' to invite the listener's agreement rather than to assert a fact outright.
常見錯誤
2. used when you hear or see something surprising and find it hard to accept, often
used when you hear or see something surprising and find it hard to accept, often by questioning or contradicting what was said
Surely you don't believe everything you read on social media?
surely + don't (questioning disbelief)
Chidi has never seen the ocean? Surely he has visited the coast at least once.
Surely there is a cheaper way to fix the phone than buying a new one.
You left your keys in the car? Surely you made sure the door was locked.
文法句型
surely + not/can't/don't/didn't/haven't
用法筆記
Common in rhetorical questions and exclamations where the speaker challenges a claim. Often paired with a negative auxiliary (don't, can't, didn't, hasn't) or a question that implies the opposite of what was stated.