These three English words all mean "to make sure or certain" and are commonly confused, even by native speakers. This lesson will ensure that you understand the difference.
Assure
Assure most commonly means "to remove doubt about, to guarantee, to set one's mind at rest." It is a verbal statement of certainty.Assure is the only one of these three verbs that can be used with a person as the direct object.
I assure you that we will be on time.
He assured us that there were no delays.
Assure can also mean ensure (see below).
In British English, assurance is used as a synonym for a particular type of insurance (see below).
Ensure
Ensure means "to make sure or certain" and must be followed by a direct object. Ensure indicates the action of guaranteeing, as opposed to the spoken guarantee indicated by assure.
Winning the lottery ensured our happiness.
His loyalty will ensure your safety.
Insure
Insure refers to the provision of insurance: coverage against a specified loss.
My new car is not yet insured.
Our house was insured when the storm hit.
In British English, assure is used instead of insure when referring to insurance that is guaranteed to be paid (e.g., life insurance, because you are definitely going to die at some point), as opposed to car or fire insurance (which cover you against a loss that may or may not occur).
Insure can also mean ensure - to make sure of.
The Bottom Line
Assure, ensure, and insure can all mean "to make sure or certain of":
Hard work will assure/ensure/insure your success.
In my opinion, however, ensure is the only word that should be used here.
Beyond that meaning, assure also indicates a verbal guarantee, and insure refers to the action of guaranteeing coverage in the case of loss.
Example: I'm going to insure the shipment for $5,000.00.
Example: I will ensure that the shipment arrives by Friday.
Example: I assure you, we'll do all possible to get the shipment there by Friday.
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ㅎㅎ 역시 영어는.. 멀어요 ㅋㅋ 우리나라 영어 사전부터 싹 바꿔야 할 것 같아요~ ㅎㅎ
동감 -_-
p.s. 님 아이디 옆 색깔 이퀄라이져 같은거는
어떻게 만드나요? 알려주세용용용 ~ ㅎㅎ ^^
싸이에서 업어왔습니다! ㅋㅋ
cheese 2010/03/12 23:37 댓글주소 수정/삭제 댓글쓰기
제가 생각한 정리는,
세단어 모두 장담을 뜻하는데
assure은 장담 + 상대방 마음을 안정 시키기 위해
ensure은 장담 + 일에 성공확실성 여부
insure은 장담 + loss 부분에 대한 coverage 여부
같은 애기를 또 하는건가 ^^;;
ㅎㅎ 정말 좋은거 알아갑니다.
다시한번 정리해 주시니 도움이 되는데요^^
도움이 되셨다니..기쁠 따름입니다~