Cool MateBut he sure is fast vs Certainly vs Really
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
But he sure is fast
Top 3,000 (common)
Certainly
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adverb
Really
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
| But he sure is fast | Certainly | Really | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bʌt hiː ʃʊə ɪz fæst//🇺🇸 //bʌt hiː ʃʊr ɪz fæst// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɜːtnli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɜːrtnli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəli//ˈrɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | He is definitely quick. | Definitely; for sure. | very or truly |
| Example | But he sure is fast when it comes to running. | Without treatment, she will **almost certainly** die. | I really enjoy going to the beach. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb | |
| Collocations | he sure is, but he, is fast | certainly agree, certainly possible, certainly not, certainly true, certainly yes | really want, really good, really sure, really excited, really important |
| Antonyms | - | uncertainly, doubtfully | seldom, never |
| Common mistakes | Using 'sure' without 'but' in a contrasting statement., Confusing 'fast' with 'quick' - they are similar but have different usages in context. | 'Certainly' is often incorrectly used in place of 'certain' in adjectives., Learners might confuse 'certainly' with 'definitely' without noticing the subtle nuance., Some learners use 'certainly' in inappropriate contexts, such as casual greetings. | Using it in place of 'real' when describing a noun., Confusing it with 'really' in terms of degree, e.g., 'really good' instead of 'very good'. |
| Usage notes | Use in informal contexts, such as conversations or storytelling. Avoid in formal writing. | Use 'certainly' when you want to emphasize affirmation or agreement. It is more formal than 'sure' and works well in professional settings, but might feel too strong in casual conversations. | Used to emphasize an adjective or another adverb. It can be informal in casual conversations but is accepted in most contexts; avoid overusing it in formal writing. |
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Frequently asked questions: But he sure is fast vs Certainly vs Really
What's the difference between But he sure is fast, Certainly, and Really?
But he sure is fast: He is definitely quick. Certainly: Definitely; for sure. Really: very or truly
Which is more advanced: But he sure is fast, Certainly, and Really?
Certainly is the highest level, at A2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
But he sure is fast: But he sure is fast when it comes to running. Certainly: Without treatment, she will **almost certainly** die. Really: I really enjoy going to the beach.
Can I use But he sure is fast, Certainly, and Really interchangeably?
Not always. But he sure is fast, Certainly, and Really are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.