STRUCTURE
確かに＋agreement
often 確かに～が、…
HOW TO USE IT
- 確かに is an adverb placed at the start of the sentence or before the predicate: 確かにそうです。
- Used to acknowledge something as true. It usually opens a concession 確かに～が／けど、…, and the second clause gives another view.
- Also used to confirm something the speaker has checked for certain: 確かに受け取りました。
- Unlike おそらく, which is a guess usually ending in だろう, 確かに refers to what the speaker treats as already true.
WATCH OUT
×確かに雨が降っても、試合は行います。
○たとえ雨が降っても、試合は行います。
A hypothetical "even if ~" uses たとえ～ても. 確かに acknowledges something real; it does not open a hypothetical ～ても clause.
×確かな彼は親切だが、少し厳しい。
○確かに彼は親切だが、少し厳しい。
確かな modifies a noun (確かな情報). Before a whole clause, use the adverb 確かに.
Examples
確かにこの店は高いが、味は最高だ。
たしかにこのみせはたかいが、あじはさいこうだ。
This place certainly is expensive, but the food is superb.
確かにこの辞書は便利だが、重くて持ち歩けない。
たしかにこのじしょはべんりだが、おもくてもちあるけない。
This dictionary certainly is handy, but it is too heavy to carry around.
確かに彼女は若いけれど、経験は十分にある。
たしかにかのじょはわかいけれど、けいけんはじゅうぶんにある。
She certainly is young, but she has plenty of experience.
Often confused with
How each pair differs, with the exam trap in context, is in the Toey lesson.
Practise 確かに with drills and review
Start free with N5. N3 drills, audio and review are in JLPT Pro.
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