To be sure about/of something
Hello,
Which preposition would you use ?
- It's impossible to be sure about/of the value of the land.
- I heard he caught a big trout on Sunday, but I am not sure about/of its size. All I know is that it was quite big.
- My co-worker must have stolen the money. I am sure of/about it!
I think that "sure of" would only work in the third sentence. I'd choose "sure about" for the other two, but who knows... When would you choose one and not the other?
Thank you. 
Top answer
Gene93 I think that "sure of" would only work in the third sentence. I'd choose "sure about" for the other two, but who knows... When would you choose one and not the other?
- Gene93 I think that "sure of" would only work in the third sentence.
- I'd choose "sure about" for the other two, but who knows...
- When would you choose one and not the other?
- I assess the situation as you do; however, the "why" is a matter for students in linguistics looking for papers to do to earn their doctorate degrees.
- I don't think it would stand out as really awful if you used 'of' for all of them.
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Gene93I think that "sure of" would only work in the third sentence. I'd choose "sure about" for the other two, but who knows... When would you choose one and not the other?
I assess the situation as you do; however, the "why" is a matter for students in linguistics looking for papers to do to earn their doctorate degrees.
0You are asking about a phrase that illustrates the evolution of the English language.
"Sure about" did not exist before about 1860; "sure of" usage peaked in 1900 and has been in decline since then. However, it is still more common than "sure about."
0
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