Cool MateOf course you are vs Sure
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Of course you are
Top 2,000 (common)
Sure
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Most common: Sure
| Of course you are | Sure | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //əv kɔːs juː ɑː//🇺🇸 //əv kɔrəs ju ɑr// | 🇬🇧 /["/ʃʊə(r)//ʃɔː(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʃʊr/"]/ |
| Meaning | A way to say someone is right or true. | certain or confident about something |
| Example | Are you joining us for dinner? | I am sure that we will win the game. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | Of course you are right, Of course you are welcome, Of course you are invited | be, feel, seem, absolutely, completely, quite, about, of, be, feel, seem, absolutely, completely, quite, about, of |
| Antonyms | - | uncertain, doubtful, unsure |
| Common mistakes | 'Of course you are' can be confused with 'Indeed, you are' which is more formal., Some learners may use it sarcastically without realizing the tone., Learners might omit the 'you' and say just 'Of course' incorrectly. | Used too casually in formal situations., Confused with 'surely' which implies a stronger confirmation., Mispronounced as 'sher' instead of 'shur'. |
| Usage notes | Used to confirm someone's statement or belief. It’s friendly and supportive. Avoid in formal situations. | Used to express agreement or assurance. It's typically appropriate in most casual and formal contexts, but can feel dismissive if overused in a conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Of course you are vs Sure
What's the difference between Of course you are and Sure?
Of course you are: A way to say someone is right or true. Sure: certain or confident about something
Which is more common: Of course you are and Sure?
Sure is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Of course you are: Are you joining us for dinner? Sure: I am sure that we will win the game.
Can I use Of course you are and Sure interchangeably?
Not always. Of course you are and Sure are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.