Confirm vs Make sure to feed him

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

Confirm

Top 2,000 (common)B1verb

Make sure to feed him

Top 2,000 (common)
 ConfirmMake sure to feed him
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //kənˈfɜːm//🇺🇸 //kənˈfɜrm//🇬🇧 //meɪk ʃʊə tə fiːd hɪm//🇺🇸 //meɪk ʃʊr tə fid hɪm//
MeaningTo say that something is true or to make sure of it.Check that he gets food.
ExampleCan you confirm the time for the meeting tomorrow?Make sure to feed him at the right time every day.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationsconfirm a reservation, confirm an appointment, confirm information, confirm a hypothesis, confirm resultsmake sure to check, make sure you do, make sure it's done
Antonymsdeny, disprove, reject-
Common mistakesConfused with 'affirm' which is more formal., Using 'confirm' without an object in sentences., Incorrectly assuming 'confirmed' is always followed by a date.Omitting 'to', saying 'make sure feed him', Confusing 'make sure' with 'ensure', Using 'make sure' in contexts requiring more formality
Usage notesUse 'confirm' in both formal and informal contexts, such as meetings or casual conversations. It's appropriate when verifying information or giving approval.Used when instructing someone to ensure an action is done. Suitable for everyday conversation; avoid in formal writing.

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Confirm
Make sure to feed him

Frequently asked questions: Confirm vs Make sure to feed him

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

Confirm: To say that something is true or to make sure of it. Make sure to feed him: Check that he gets food.

Can you show an example of each?

Confirm: Can you confirm the time for the meeting tomorrow? Make sure to feed him: Make sure to feed him at the right time every day.

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

Not always. Confirm 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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