Cool MateSure vs Yes of course
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Sure
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Yes of course
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Sure
| Sure | Yes of course | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃʊə(r)//ʃɔː(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃʊr/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jɛs əv kɔːs//🇺🇸 //jɛs əv kɔrs// |
| Meaning | certain or confident about something | An affirmation or agreement to something. |
| Example | I am sure that we will win the game. | Can you help me with this project? Yes, of course! |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, seem, absolutely, completely, quite, about, of, be, feel, seem, absolutely, completely, quite, about, of | Yes of course, Sure, yes of course, Absolutely, yes of course |
| Antonyms | uncertain, doubtful, unsure | - |
| Common mistakes | Used too casually in formal situations., Confused with 'surely' which implies a stronger confirmation., Mispronounced as 'sher' instead of 'shur'. | Using it in a sarcastic context when not intended, Saying it too formally in casual conversation, Omitting 'of' and saying just 'yes course' |
| Usage notes | Used to express agreement or assurance. It's typically appropriate in most casual and formal contexts, but can feel dismissive if overused in a conversation. | Use in response to affirmatively agree with someone's request or question. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Sure vs Yes of course
What's the difference between Sure and Yes of course?
Sure: certain or confident about something Yes of course: An affirmation or agreement to something.
Which is more common: Sure and Yes of course?
Sure is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Sure: I am sure that we will win the game. Yes of course: Can you help me with this project? Yes, of course!
Can I use Sure and Yes of course interchangeably?
Not always. Sure and Yes of course 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.