“to be sure”是英语中常用的插入语或独立表达,核心功能是承认某事实的真实性,或强化肯定语气,常带有“诚然、确实、当然”的意味,有时伴随轻微的“让步”(先认可某点,再引出转折/补充)。
最常见的用法:先承认一个情况的真实性,再用“but/yet”等词引出相反或补充的信息(即“虽然……但……”的逻辑)。
She's a great singer, to be sure, but she's not very punctual.(她确实是个好歌手,但不太守时。)
The plan is ambitious, to be sure, yet it's achievable with effort.(这个计划诚然宏大,但努力的话是可以实现的。)
用于加强对某件事的确定感,相当于“of course”或“certainly”,无转折,语气更温和。
To be sure, we'll help you move this weekend.(当然,我们这周末会帮你搬家。)
He'll pass the exam, to be sure—he's been studying hard.(他肯定能通过考试——他一直很努力。)
位置灵活:可放在句首、句中(用逗号隔开),偶尔也可放在句末(口语中常见)。
句首:To be sure, I was nervous before the speech, but it went well.(诚然,演讲前我很紧张,但结果不错。)
句中:The book is long, to be sure, but it's worth reading.(这本书确实长,但值得一读。)
句末:Do stay for dinner, to be sure!(一定要留下吃晚饭哦!)
vs. sure enough:“sure enough”表示“果然,果真”(验证之前的猜测),而“to be sure”是“承认/强调事实”。
I thought he'd be late—sure enough, he arrived 30 minutes later.(我就知道他会迟到——果然,他晚了30分钟。)
To be sure, he was late, but he brought a gift.(确实,他迟到了,但带了礼物。)
“to be sure”的核心是“承认事实”:
若后接“but”,则是“诚然……但……”(让步转折);
若无转折,则是“当然/肯定……”(强调确认)。
通过上下文的逻辑(是否有转折),很容易判断其具体语气~