Surely與certainly的含義不相同.certainly表示所了解的情況,因而很有信心和十分肯定.
e.g.That’s certainly a rock music star.
那肯定是位搖滾歌星.
The glass vase will certainly break if you drop it.
如果你把玻璃花瓶掉在地上,它一定會碎的.
surely表示相信,但又感到驚奇或難以相信.surely常與否定詞連用,表示懷疑或不愿意相信某事.
e.g.Surely you’re not going to wear that it?
你決不會戴那條領帶吧?
Surely that’s Henry over there?I thought he was in England.
那邊想必是亨利啰?我還以為他在英格蘭呢.
Surely也用來(特別在美國英語中)表示樂于贊同.而在英國英語中,則更常說certainly或of course.
“Could you help me for a moment?”
“Yes,surely”./ “Yes,certainly”.
“你能幫我一會兒忙嗎?”
“當然可以.”