Cool MateBut he sure is fast vs Really
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
But he sure is fast
Top 3,000 (common)
Really
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most common: Really
| But he sure is fast | Really | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //bʌt hiː ʃʊə ɪz fæst//🇺🇸 //bʌt hiː ʃʊr ɪz fæst// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈriːəli//ˈrɪəli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈriːəli/"]/ |
| Meaning | He is definitely quick. | very or truly |
| Example | But he sure is fast when it comes to running. | I really enjoy going to the beach. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | |
| Collocations | he sure is, but he, is fast | really want, really good, really sure, really excited, really important |
| Antonyms | - | 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. | 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. | 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 Really
What's the difference between But he sure is fast and Really?
But he sure is fast: He is definitely quick. Really: very or truly
Which is more common: But he sure is fast and Really?
Really is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
But he sure is fast: But he sure is fast when it comes to running. Really: I really enjoy going to the beach.
Can I use But he sure is fast and Really interchangeably?
Not always. But he sure is fast 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.