Certainly vs Definitely vs Surely

Quando usar cada um em inglês, com significado, registro e exemplos.

Certainly

Top 1000 (muito comum)A2adverb

Definitely

Top 1000 (muito comum)A2adverb

Surely

Top 2000 (comum)B1adverb
 CertainlyDefinitelySurely
Pronúncia🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɜːtnli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɜːrtnli/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdefɪnətli/"]/🇬🇧 /["/ˈʃʊəli//ˈʃɔːli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈʃʊrli/"]/
SignificadoDefinitely; for sure.For sure, without a doubtcertainly; without a doubt
ExemploWithout treatment, she will **almost certainly** die.I definitely remember sending the letter.Surely we should do something about it?
RegistroNeutroNeutroNeutro
Quão comumTop 1000 (muito comum)Top 1000 (muito comum)Top 2000 (comum)
Nível CEFRA2A2B1
Classe gramaticaladverbadverbadverb
Colocaçõescertainly agree, certainly possible, certainly not, certainly true, certainly yesdefinitely agree, definitely believe, definitely knowsurely believe, surely know, surely must
Antônimosuncertainly, doubtfullydoubtfully, uncertainlydoubtfully, unsure
Erros comuns'Certainly' is often incorrectly used in place of 'certain' in adjectives., Learners might confuse 'certainly' with 'definitely' without noticing the subtle nuance., Some learners use 'certainly' in inappropriate contexts, such as casual greetings.Often confused with 'defiantly' which means resisting authority., Sometimes spelled incorrectly as 'definately'.Confusing 'surely' with 'sure' — 'sure' can be an adjective., Using 'surely' as a response when a simple 'yes' would suffice., Omitting 'surely' in a sentence where it clarifies certainty.
Notas de usoUse 'certainly' when you want to emphasize affirmation or agreement. It is more formal than 'sure' and works well in professional settings, but might feel too strong in casual conversations.Use 'definitely' to emphasize certainty. It fits well in both spoken and written English. Avoid using it in overly formal contexts where alternatives like 'certainly' might be more suitable.Use 'surely' to express certainty. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but is more common in formal discussions. Avoid using it in very casual conversations where simpler words like 'definitely' might fit better.

Perguntas frequentes: Certainly vs Definitely vs Surely

Qual é a diferença entre Certainly, Definitely e Surely?

Certainly: Definitely; for sure. Definitely: For sure, without a doubt Surely: certainly; without a doubt

Qual é mais avançada: Certainly, Definitely e Surely?

Surely é o nível mais alto, em B1, na escala CEFR.

Certainly, Definitely e Surely estão no mesmo nível CEFR?

Certainly: A2, Definitely: A2, Surely: B1 na escala CEFR.

Que classe gramatical são Certainly, Definitely e Surely?

Certainly: adverb, Definitely: adverb, Surely: adverb.

Pode mostrar um exemplo de cada?

Certainly: Without treatment, she will **almost certainly** die. Definitely: I definitely remember sending the letter. Surely: Surely we should do something about it?

Posso usar Certainly, Definitely e Surely de forma intercambiável?

Nem sempre. Certainly, Definitely e Surely são relacionadas e às vezes se sobrepõem, mas diferem em registro, frequência e uso, então trocar uma pela outra pode mudar o sentido ou o tom. Veja as diferenças acima antes de substituir.