49 Expressing certainty and uncertainty
The concepts of certainty and uncertainty can be expressed in Spanish in a number of
ways, ranging from set phrases to more complex constructions. The examples below
should help you to understand these, but should you have difficulty with the verb
forms associated with these expressions, you may need to refer to the first part of this
book for a revision of them.49.1 Saying how certain one is of something
49.1.1 Strong positive certainty
To express strong positive certainty, Spanish uses expressions like the following,
arranged here from the strongest to the weakest form.49.1.1.1 Set phrases
no cabe ninguna or la menor duda‘there cannot be the
slightest doubt’
sin lugar a dudas‘without doubt’
por supuesto‘of course’
claro‘of course’
desde luego‘of course’49.1.1.2 Other expressions
Estar (completamente/totalmente) seguro/convencido‘to be
(absolutely) sure/certain/convinced’
estar seguro/convencido de que.. .‘to be sure/certain/convinced
that.. .’
estar seguro/convencido de+ pronoun ‘to be sure/certain/convinced
of.. .’
sin duda.. .‘no doubt.. .’
indudablemente.. .‘undoubtedly’, ‘unquestionably.. .’
por supuesto que.. .‘of course.. .’
claro que.. .‘of course.. .’
desde luego que.. .‘of course.. .’