I certainly forgot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I certainly forgot" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a strong acknowledgment of having forgotten something, often in a conversational or informal context. Example: "I was supposed to call you yesterday, but I certainly forgot."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A good 3D film will allow you to forget that it's even in 3D and after about 20 minutes into the film I certainly forgot about the glasses.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Their kids certainly forgot Russian faster.

The New Yorker

If the course exists, Victoria Nuland, a career Senior Officer of the United States Foreign Service who became Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, certainly forgot how to apply it.

Huffington Post

(I may have been haunted by Elizabeth Taylor's death glare; I certainly never forgot her hideous hat).

The New Yorker

"Thou hast certainly forgotten how to write dialogue," Beatrice said.

The Guardian - Books

They certainly forget the speech of Winston Churchill in Zurich in 1946, in which he called for a United States of Europe.

The Economist

People who reckon you need more complicated software like Logic (Apple's professional music-making application) have almost certainly forgotten why they are making music in the first place.

The Guardian

The boring category holds those winners which can't really tell us anything about the future of tech; awarded the top slot for quality, rather than blazing new trails, they were certainly good examples of their type, but just as certainly forgotten the instant a better version came out.

The Guardian - Tech

I'm sure that, as always, the G8 summit will come up with a form of words and an agreement on some of the issues that Cameron is putting forward; but old cynic that I am I know that G8 leaders – once they get on those planes and leave Northern Ireland in mid-June – will almost certainly forget everything they've put on those pieces of paper and not actually fulfil them.

The Guardian

Did they mention the reference check that costs £300 that they'll almost certainly forget to do?

Vice

Otherwise, you will almost certainly forget something or not have time to finish it.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I certainly forgot" when you want to express a clear and direct admission of forgetting something, adding a touch of emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "certainly" excessively in formal writing; opt for more neutral alternatives like "definitely" or "indeed" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I certainly forgot" functions as a declarative statement expressing the speaker's clear admission of having forgotten something. It combines the personal pronoun "I" with an adverb of certainty and the past tense of the verb "forget". Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I certainly forgot" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a clear admission of having forgotten something. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is indeed correct. While it's generally acceptable, it's more common in neutral or informal contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives like "I completely forgot" in professional or academic writing. Remember to be mindful of your audience and the level of formality required in different situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I definitely forgot

Replaces "certainly" with "definitely" to convey a strong sense of having forgotten.

I truly forgot

Substitutes "certainly" with "truly" to emphasize the genuineness of forgetting.

I completely forgot

Uses "completely" to highlight the totality of forgetting something.

I absolutely forgot

Employs "absolutely" to reinforce the certainty of having forgotten.

I clean forgot

An informal way to say one completely forgot something.

I totally spaced it

An informal phrase indicating a complete lapse in memory.

It slipped my mind entirely

Expresses that something was completely forgotten.

I had a complete memory lapse

Indicates a temporary failure of memory.

I omitted it without realizing

Suggests forgetting as an unintentional omission.

I overlooked it

Implies forgetting through neglect or failure to notice.

FAQs

How can I use "I certainly forgot" in a sentence?

Use "I certainly forgot" to express that you clearly forgot something, like "I was supposed to bring the cake, but "I certainly forgot"".

What's a more formal alternative to "I certainly forgot"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "I completely forgot" or "I had forgotten". These alternatives are less casual than "I certainly forgot".

Is it grammatically correct to say "I certainly forgot"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. The word "certainly" modifies the verb "forgot", indicating a strong confirmation of forgetting.

What can I say instead of "I certainly forgot" to express a similar meaning?

You can use alternatives like "I definitely forgot", "I completely forgot", or "I absolutely forgot" depending on the context.