certainly

"Certainly" is another word that you use to agree and disagree at the same time. The word "certainly" means "definitely". But it's often used to show a small feeling of disagreement or dissatisfaction. For example, if someone is acting a lot happier than usual, you can say:

You're certainly in a good mood today!

This sentence contains a very small suggestion that there's something strange about the person's good mood. Another example is:

I certainly hope he's able to finish in time.

Part of the meaning of this sentence is "I hope he's able to finish in time, although I don't think he will."

This phrase appears in these lessons: