certainly
part of speech
adverb (certainly)
meaning for a pupil
1) Certainly means without any doubt; surely. tree →
2) Certainly is a polite way of saying «yes» or «of course» when someone asks for something. tree →
3) Certainly can mean «it is true that…», before a «but». tree →
sense in the lessons
In the Tanakh and Jewish tradition: Used in older English for emphasis, as in "surely" or "for sure". In the primary lessons: In everyday talk «certainly» is a polite «yes»: «Can I borrow a pencil?» — «Certainly.» In stories and writing it shows the speaker is sure. In school reasoning it marks something that must be true, unlike «probably» or «maybe». Phrases: «certainly not» (a firm no), «almost certainly», «most certainly».
examples
- It is a guilt-offering — he is certainly guilty before the LORD. (Torah LEV.5.19, JPS 1917) tree →
- Behold, the blood of it was not brought into the sanctuary within; ye should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.' (Torah LEV.10.18, JPS 1917) tree →
- And He said: 'I will certainly return unto thee when the season cometh round; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.' And Sarah heard in the tent door, which was behind him. — (Torah GEN.18.10, JPS 1917) tree →
- Lo, certainly in vain hath wrought the vain pen of the scribes. (Prophets JER.8.8, JPS 1917) tree →
- Wilt thou set thine eyes upon it? it is gone; for riches certainly make themselves wings, like an eagle that flieth toward heaven. (Writings PRO.23.5, JPS 1917) tree →
- The LORD hath spoken concerning you, O remnant of Judah: Go ye not into Egypt; know certainly that I have forewarned you this day. (Prophets JER.42.19, JPS 1917) tree →
- «May I open the window?» «Certainly.» tree →
- It will certainly rain later — look at those clouds. tree →
- You certainly worked hard on this project. tree →
- «Can I stay up all night?» «Certainly not!» tree →
- She is almost certainly at the library. tree →
- It was certainly a long walk, but it was fun. tree →
- The team will most certainly win if they play like that. tree →
- A triangle certainly has three sides. tree →
- "Certainly; and I can do it." tree →
note
Spelling: certain + ly. «Certainly not» is a strong refusal. In probability, «certain» means it will definitely happen (probability 1); «almost certainly» is very likely but not sure. Do not confuse with «certainty» (a noun: the feeling of being sure).
In the corpora
- It is a guilt-offering — he is certainly guilty before the LORD.
- Lo, certainly in vain hath wrought the vain pen of the scribes.
- A little bottle labelled "DRINK ME" appears on the table, "which certainly was not here before", Alice says.
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «certainly» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.