Cool MateGuarantee vs I swear on my children
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Guarantee
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
I swear on my children
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: GuaranteeMost common: Guarantee
| Guarantee | I swear on my children | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌɡærənˈtiː/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːz/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːd/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌɡærənˈtiː/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːz/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːd/","/ˌɡærənˈtiːɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //aɪ swɛə(r) ɒn maɪ ˈtʃɪldrən//🇺🇸 //aɪ swɛr ɑn maɪ ˈtʃɪldrən// |
| Meaning | A promise that something will happen or be done. | I promise strongly using my children as a reason. |
| Example | I can guarantee that you will enjoy this movie. | I swear on my children, I will always protect them. |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | absolutely, personally, constitutionally, be able to, can, be fully guaranteed, absolutely, almost, practically | swear on my children, strongly swear, promise with sincerity, vow to protect, emphasize with family |
| Antonyms | doubt, uncertainty, dispute | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused 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. | Confusion between 'swear on' and 'swear to'., Using in overly formal situations., Incorrectly using with abstract concepts. |
| Usage notes | Use '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 in informal contexts to express strong promise or truth, often relates to personal feelings or beliefs. |
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Frequently asked questions: Guarantee vs I swear on my children
What's the difference between Guarantee and I swear on my children?
Guarantee: A promise that something will happen or be done. I swear on my children: I promise strongly using my children as a reason.
Which is more formal: Guarantee and I swear on my children?
Guarantee is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Guarantee and I swear on my children?
Guarantee is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Guarantee: I can guarantee that you will enjoy this movie. I swear on my children: I swear on my children, I will always protect them.
Can I use Guarantee and I swear on my children interchangeably?
Not always. Guarantee and I swear on my children 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.