Guarantee vs Make sure to feed him

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Guarantee

Top 2,000 (common)B2verb

Make sure to feed him

Top 2,000 (common)
 GuaranteeMake sure to feed him
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˌɡærənˈtiː/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːz/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːd/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɡærənˈtiː/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːz/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːd/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //meɪk ʃʊə tə fiːd hɪm//🇺🇸 //meɪk ʃʊr tə fid hɪm//
MeaningA promise that something will happen or be done.Check that he gets food.
ExampleI can guarantee that you will enjoy this movie.Make sure to feed him at the right time every day.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB2-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsabsolutely, personally, constitutionally, be able to, can, be fully guaranteed, absolutely, almost, practicallymake sure to check, make sure you do, make sure it's done
Antonymsdoubt, uncertainty, dispute-
Common mistakesConfused with 'ensure' — 'guarantee' implies a stronger promise., Incorrectly using 'guarantee' without a direct object — always specify what is guaranteed., Mixing up 'guaranteed' as an adjective instead of a past participle.Omitting 'to', saying 'make sure feed him', Confusing 'make sure' with 'ensure', Using 'make sure' in contexts requiring more formality
Usage notesUse 'guarantee' when you want to express certainty about an outcome. It's suitable for both written and spoken English, but avoid in casual conversations where simpler words like 'promise' may suffice.Used when instructing someone to ensure an action is done. Suitable for everyday conversation; avoid in formal writing.

See it in real clips

Guarantee
Make sure to feed him

Frequently asked questions: Guarantee vs Make sure to feed him

What's the difference between Guarantee and Make sure to feed him?

Guarantee: A promise that something will happen or be done. Make sure to feed him: Check that he gets food.

Can you show an example of each?

Guarantee: I can guarantee that you will enjoy this movie. Make sure to feed him: Make sure to feed him at the right time every day.

Can I use Guarantee and Make sure to feed him interchangeably?

Not always. Guarantee and Make sure to feed him 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.

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