Talk:sure

The usage "sure up support" surely has "sure" as a verb?

• No. You mean "shore up support". SemperBlotto (talk) 15:40, 24 May 2018 (UTC)Reply

make sure ⇒ (takes a clause as object) to make certain; ensure
2. (followed by of) to establish or confirm power or possession (over)

make certain: I just want to make certain that our meeting is still on for tomorrow morning.

CambGEL, page 543,

We review here a range of constructions with PP complements. For each of the prepositions concerned we give a few examples of AdjPs containing a complement, followed by a sample of adjectives that license complements headed by this preposition. In the lists of adjectives we type capitalize those where (for a given sense of the adjective) the complement is wholly or virtually obligatory in non-attributive constructions (We do not provide a list for against, but there is one adjective that selects complements headed by this preposition: No security system is PROOF against the truly professional burglar). [17] Adj. + of: sure OF HIS FACTS. 

page 1326

Coordination of unlike categories In the great majority of cases, coordinates belong to the same syntactic category, but a difference of category is generally tolerated where there is likeness of function. This section surveys the main functions allowing coordinations of this kind.
(b) Other complements, including subject. Where a head element can take different categories as complement (without a change in sense), unlike coordinations are generally possible.
In [15 ic] He was sure [OF HIMSELF and WHERE HE WAS GOING], the head is an adjective (sure)  (Strictly speaking there is indeterminacy as to whether the coordination is complement of sure (Strictly speaking there is indeterminacy as to whether the coordination is complement of sure (with the form PP + clause) or of of (with the form NP + clause), for the non-coordinative version could be either he was sure where he was going or He was sure of where he was going)

Practical English Grammar

Certain/sure of + -ing are used to refer to the feelings of the person one is talking about. Before the game she felt certain of winning, but after a few minutes she realised it wasn't going to be so easy. You seem very sure of passing the exam. 

Certain/sure + infinitive refer to the speaker's or writer's own feelings. The repairs are certain to cost more than you think. Kroftova's sure to win - the other girl hasn't got a chance. He is sure to succeed means 'I am sure that he will succeed'.

I'm not sure {of his method -how he does it} (More natural than I'm not sure of how he does it.)
In rare instances the English adjective takes an object without any preposition, expressed by mere juxtaposition, e. g. worth (It is worth while). 
Under this type of object JESPERSEN includes the object after like, near, next (cf. This is quite like him, Wear your underwear next [Tο] your skin, I live near the faculty). However, these expressions are generally felt as prepositions. Moreover, near and next are sometimes followed by the preposition to.

Quirk's comprehensive, page 881

The pro-form not is occasionally used with the verbs say and tell, but the use of the positive pro-form so is much more frequent with such verbs of saying. With other verbs and adjectives, such as know and (be) sure, neither of these forms can normally be used, but the whole that-clause can be ellipted (I know; I am sure; cf 12.65), or else the pronoun it can be used: I know it (AmE) ; I am sure of it. For other examples of ellipsis in place of so (eg: Who says? I agree) cf 12.65

compare SURE: https://www.oed.com/oed2/00243226 ; CERTAIN: https://www.oed.com/oed2/00035941

--Backinstadiums (talk) 09:14, 15 November 2020 (UTC)Reply

Also more/most sure, especially in sense 1 (SYNONYM certain)
1. [not before noun] confident that you know something or that you are right --Backinstadiums (talk) 14:14, 21 August 2021 (UTC)Reply

I've added the common NYC pronunciation to the list, where "sure" rhymes with "sewer." -2003:CA:8732:40E4:BE22:4306:9F37:AA63 00:28, 15 August 2023 (UTC)Reply