Confused by ENSURE, REASSURE, INSURE, ASSURE? Learn the Differences!

At the end of this video, you're going to be sure of the meaning

of the most common words that contain the word

Sure. You probably have a good idea already.

what sure means. To feel certain,

convinced, or very confident about something.

But what about assure,

ensure,

reassure and insure?

Watch this scene and listen carefully

for the words with ‘sure’ in them.

I'm not sure about this.

What are you unsure of?

Is it a good idea?

Of course it is.

I can assure you that you'll love it.

But how do you know?

I'm sure because everyone loves fireworks.

But, how did you ensure that it's going to be safe?

Oh, I watched a video.

Well, that's reassuring,

right? Let's set them off.

Three. Two.

One.

Did we insure the house?

I think

we should be leaving fireworks to the professionals from now on.

Yes, I suppose you're right.

But for now, let's review the sure words, OK?

OK, So what are the differences between these words with sure in them?

Let's start with the base form.

Sure means certain convinced or very confident.

I'm sure because everyone loves fireworks.

I felt very certain that the fireworks would be successful. Got it.

So the negative, not sure

or unsure, means the opposite of these?

Uncertainty. Doubtful.

Insecure about something?

I'm not sure about this.

What are you unsure of?

Well, yes, I had some safety concerns.

Now, what about assure?

To assure someone of something means you speak

confidently to convince them or guarantee something.

I can assure you that you'll love it.

I convinced Jay that he would enjoy the end result.

So with the prefix re reassure.

Does it mean you assure someone again?

It can mean that although we typically use it in a context

when one person feels worried or doubtful.

So another person says things

to make them feel comforted and confident again.

Well that's reassuring.

Do I detect some sarcasm in your voice?

Then? Yes.

I certainly wasn't feeling comforted because you watched one video. Anyway,

tell us how is reassure different from ensure?

Reassure means saying. Ensure means doing.

When we ensure something, it means we take action

in order to secure or guarantee a particular result.

How did you ensure that it's going to be safe?

You needed to know what action I had taken to make it safe.

And what about insure?

Think about money.

Because insure means protecting oneself from financial loss.

If an item of value is lost, damaged or destroyed.

To protect yourself, you pay money to an insurance company.

In return, they cover your item of value,

which means they promise to compensate you

if it's lost, damaged, or destroyed.

Did we insure the house?

Did you notice?

The way I say sure is different from the way Jay says it.

Sure, sure.

In British English, it's more typical to have a flat, monosyllabic sound

where the r is either unvoiced or very soft,

like the r in the word, or. In American English,

we tend to stress the r more, and the vowel sound is more like a u than an o.

Sure, but I have to say it varies by region.

Where I grew up in Brooklyn,

we said ‘shuah’ instead of sure,

and the words insue and insurance vary by region too.

In the northeast, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, for example,

It's in sure’.

But in Arkansas, for example, is in’ sure and in’ surance

not in sure’ and in sur’ ance.

If you want to learn more about the difference between the American

R and the English R, ensure that you watch this video next.

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where I make short videos teaching B1 English.

Phrasal verbs and idioms.

Bye now!