certain
certain — 形容詞
1. feeling sure about something because you have good reasons to think it is true.
確定；確信
對某事沒有懷疑的
feeling sure about something because you have good reasons to think it is true.
Ravi is certain that he locked the front door before leaving for work.
Ravi 很確定他在出門上班前鎖好了大門。
be certain + that-clause for personal conviction
Before the exam, Priya felt certain she had reviewed every chapter.
考試前，Priya 確信自己已經複習過每一章。
The firefighters were not certain what started the blaze in the basement.
消防員不確定地下室的大火是怎麼開始的。
After checking the directions twice, Amara felt certain of the best route to the theatre.
查了兩次路線後，Amara 確信到劇院的最佳路線。
Are you certain about the time the guests plan to arrive tonight?
你確定客人今晚的抵達時間嗎？
文法句型
be certain + that-clause
be certain + wh- word
be certain + of/about + noun
用法筆記
Often used with verbs of feeling such as 'feel', 'be', or 'seem'. The that-clause pattern is the most common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. established as a fact that nobody can reasonably question.
必然；肯定
無可置疑的事實
established as a fact that nobody can reasonably question.
It is now certain that the volcano erupted at least three times in the past.
現在可以肯定的是，這座火山在過去至少噴發過三次。
it is certain + that-clause for objective fact
Although nobody saw it happen, one thing is certain: a truck hit the fence.
雖然沒有人親眼目睹，但有一件事是肯定的：一輛卡車撞上了圍籬。
The cause of the accident is not yet certain and requires further investigation.
事故的原因尚不確定，需要進一步調查。
It is far from certain whether the old bridge can support heavy lorries.
那座舊橋能否承載重型貨車，還遠不能確定。
Historians agree that it is certain the battle took place near this riverbank.
歷史學家一致認為，這場戰役確實發生在這條河岸附近。
- undisputed
stronger, implies no one challenges the fact
- indisputable
more formal and emphatic
- unquestionable
focuses on the impossibility of doubt
- clear
less formal, common in everyday contexts
文法句型
it is certain + that-clause
something is certain
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: here the speaker is stating that something is objectively undisputed, not expressing a personal feeling. Frequently occurs in the impersonal pattern 'it is certain that…'.
常見錯誤
3. so sure to happen that you cannot stop or avoid it.
必定；難免
一定會發生的
so sure to happen that you cannot stop or avoid it.
If you do not water the tomato plants, they are certain to die within days.
如果你不給番茄澆水，它們幾天內必死無疑。
be certain + to-infinitive for inevitable result
The Tigers are certain to reach the finals after this season's unbeaten run.
老虎隊本季不敗，必定能打進總決賽。
With those black clouds gathering overhead, rain is certain before evening.
頭頂烏雲密布，傍晚前肯定會下雨。
Theo knew that Gran's arrival was certain to bring laughter into the room.
Theo 知道奶奶的到來一定會讓屋裡充滿笑聲。
It is almost certain that the school will close for at least two more weeks.
學校幾乎肯定會再關閉至少兩週。
- unlikely
opposite probability level
- improbable
more formal
文法句型
be certain + to-infinitive
be certain + that-clause
用法筆記
The to-infinitive pattern ('be certain to do') is the most frequent. Do not confuse with sense 1: 'He is certain to win' means winning is inevitable; 'He is certain that he will win' expresses his personal confidence.
常見錯誤
4. used before a person's name when you have named them but the listener does not k
某位
用於不熟悉的人名前
used before a person's name when you have named them but the listener does not know who they are.
A certain Dr. Okafor from the university called while you were out.
你不在的時候，大學的一位 Okafor 博士打過電話來。
a certain + title + name for unknown person
The letter was signed by a certain Ms. Leila Chen whom I had never met.
那封信是一位我從未見過的 Leila Chen 女士簽署的。
A certain Mr. Yusuf is waiting for you in the hotel lobby.
一位名叫 Yusuf 的先生在飯店大廳等你。
The prize went to a certain Beatriz Oliveira from a small town in Brazil.
獎項頒給了來自巴西小鎮的一位 Beatriz Oliveira。
- some
more informal and dismissive ('some guy named Tom')
文法句型
a certain + name
用法筆記
Always appears before a personal name with the indefinite article 'a'. The tone often suggests the speaker has little or no personal knowledge of the person named.
5. present to a noticeable but not very large degree.
些許；有限
有限但可察覺的程度
present to a noticeable but not very large degree.
The work requires a certain level of skill with computer software.
這份工作需要一定的電腦軟體技能。
a certain level/degree of + uncountable noun
Hana felt a certain sadness as she said goodbye to her childhood home.
Hana 在向她童年的家告別時，感到些許悲傷。
a certain + abstract emotion noun
There is a certain amount of risk in any new business venture.
任何新的商業投資都有一定程度的風險。
The old house has a certain charm that is hard to describe in words.
這棟老房子有一種難以言喻的魅力。
The recipe calls for a certain amount of sugar, but you can adjust it.
食譜要求一定量的糖，但你可以自行調整。
- some
less formal and vaguer
- a measure of
more formal, literary
文法句型
a certain + noun
a certain amount/degree of + noun
用法筆記
Often used with abstract nouns (sadness, charm, appeal, risk) or quantity nouns (amount, level, degree). The emphasis is on the vagueness or the difficulty of being more precise.
certain — 限定詞
1. referring to a specific person, thing, or group without identifying them more ex
某個；某些
特定但未明確說明的
referring to a specific person, thing, or group without identifying them more exactly.
Certain members of the club have already paid their yearly fees.
俱樂部的某些會員已經繳了年費。
certain + plural noun for unspecified group
There are certain rules that every guest must follow during the stay.
有些規則是每位客人住宿期間都必須遵守的。
In certain cultures, removing your shoes before entering a home is required.
在某些文化中，進家門前脫鞋是必要的。
The nurse explained that certain foods can trigger a serious allergic reaction.
護士解釋說，某些食物可能引發嚴重的過敏反應。
Under certain conditions, the experiment produces surprising results every time.
在某些條件下，這個實驗每次都產生驚人的結果。
- particular
slightly more formal and explicit about specificity
- specific
emphasises exact identity
文法句型
certain + plural noun
certain + uncountable noun
用法筆記
Use this when you want to specify that you mean some items within a group but it is not necessary or possible to list them all. Do not confuse with the adjective sense 4 (NAMED), which is used before a specific person's name.
常見錯誤
2. used when putting a precise number or description on something is difficult or u
某種程度的
難以精確描述的性質或數量
used when putting a precise number or description on something is difficult or unnecessary.
The repairs will cost a certain amount that we have not yet worked out.
維修費用要花一定的金額，我們還沒算出來。
a certain amount of + vague quantity
There is a certain beauty in the way the old stone walls line the lane.
那些老石牆沿著小徑排列，有一種獨特的美感。
The director spoke with a certain authority that made everyone listen closely.
主任說話帶著某種權威感，讓大家都仔細聆聽。
This neighbourhood has a certain charm that appeals to artists and musicians.
這個社區有一種吸引藝術家和音樂家的魅力。
Kofi felt a certain unease as he walked through the dark parking garage alone.
Kofi 獨自走在漆黑的停車場時，感到些許不安。
- some
shorter and less formal, but may sound too vague
- a degree of
more formal, focused on measurable extent
文法句型
a certain + noun
a certain + adjective + noun
用法筆記
Distinguish from determiner sense 1: sense 1 picks out a specific subset ('certain members', 'certain foods'), whereas this sense describes a vague quality or quantity of a single thing ('a certain charm', 'a certain amount').
certain — 代名詞
1. a small number of people or things belonging to a larger group, without naming t
某些人
一群人中未明確指出的部分
a small number of people or things belonging to a larger group, without naming them.
Certain of the employees expressed concerns about the new working hours.
部分員工對新的工作時數表達了擔憂。
certain of + the + plural noun
Certain of the paintings in the gallery were damaged during the flood.
畫廊中的某些畫作在洪水期間受損了。
Certain of his arguments were hard to follow without a science background.
他的某些論點如果沒有科學背景會很難理解。
Certain of the guests arrived late because of the heavy snowfall on the roads.
由於路面積雪嚴重，部分賓客姍姍來遲。
文法句型
certain of + plural noun/pronoun
certain + of + determiner + noun
用法筆記
This is a formal construction, most common in written English. In everyday speech, 'some of the…' is used instead. Always takes a plural verb.