Yeojin
'clarify' vs 'make sure' Which one is more naturally in conversation? Is the word 'clarify' literary English? ex. I want to clarify the details. I want to make sure the details.
2019년 5월 2일 오후 7:44
답변 · 7
1
They are both common but they have different meanings and usages. I wasn’t sure I understood. Would you please clarify? I don’t trust your answer. Would you please make sure?
2019년 5월 2일
Both are used, but have different usages. "Clarify the details" makes perfect sense in both high-register and spoken vernacular English. "Make sure the details" is not grammatically correct in either, as "make sure" must take either a complementary infinitive "I want to make sure to not miss anything in the survey" or a relative clause "I want to make sure that no details are missed." However, "make sure *of* the details" is correct in spoken vernacular. It is, as you suspected, frowned upon in the high register.
2019년 5월 9일
I want to clarify the details. I want to make sure of the details. Make sure of does not mean to clarify (which means to make clear, to understand all the details), it means "to make sure something is the way you think it is or remains ". It is a metaphor, not literally English.
2019년 5월 3일
i think "clarify" means make sth clear "make sure" means assure.......
2019년 5월 2일
Both are common in North America too; you should be fine!
2019년 5월 2일
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