Positive vs You are sure of this
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Positive
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
You are sure of this
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Positive
| Positive | You are sure of this | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈpɒzətɪv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈpɑːzətɪv/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊ ɑːr ʃʊə ɒv ðɪs//🇺🇸 //ju ɑr ʃʊr ʌv ðɪs// |
| Meaning | Having a good attitude or a good feeling about something. | You believe this with confidence. |
| Example | She has a positive attitude that inspires everyone around her. | You are sure of this because you have seen the evidence. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, be, prove, test, strongly, weakly, for, be, seem, sound, absolutely, quite, fairly, about, of | be sure of something, make sure of this, not sure of this, feel sure of this, are you sure of this |
| Antonyms | negative, pessimistic | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'positive' vs 'negative'., Using 'positively' in place of 'positive' incorrectly., Mispronouncing 'positive' without the correct emphasis. | Confusing with 'You are sure about this'., Using 'of' instead of 'about' incorrectly., Saying 'You sure of this?' instead of 'Are you sure of this?' |
| Usage notes | Use 'positive' to describe feelings, thoughts, or results. It's appropriate in most contexts, but avoid in very technical discussions where precision is key. | Used in conversations where someone seeks confirmation. Suitable for both written and spoken contexts. Can be informal in casual discussions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Positive vs You are sure of this
What's the difference between Positive and You are sure of this?
Positive: Having a good attitude or a good feeling about something. You are sure of this: You believe this with confidence.
Which is more common: Positive and You are sure of this?
Positive is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Positive: She has a positive attitude that inspires everyone around her. You are sure of this: You are sure of this because you have seen the evidence.
Can I use Positive and You are sure of this interchangeably?
Not always. Positive and You are sure of this 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.