guarantee

Everyday

1. A guarantee is a promise that something will happen or will work. To guarantee means to promise it surely. tree →
2. A guarantee is also a shop's written promise to fix or replace something if it breaks within a certain time. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: a promise, often «to guarantee» a result: how many you must take to be sure of getting one of a kind; think of the worst luck first, then add one. In everyday life: a toy with a 2-year guarantee; nothing can guarantee good weather. Phrases: guarantee that, money-back guarantee, guaranteed to, under guarantee, there is no guarantee.

Examples

• How many socks must you take to guarantee a matching pair? tree →
• The shop guarantees the toy for 2 years. tree →
• How many marbles must she pick to guarantee 2 red ones? tree →
• The farmer is guaranteed $3 a box. tree →
• The watch has a one-year guarantee. tree →
• There is no guarantee that it will be sunny tomorrow. tree →
• Practice does not guarantee a win, but it helps. tree →
• The bike was still under guarantee, so they fixed it for free. tree →
• Preparedness for war is the best guarantee of peace. tree →

Note

Spelt with «gua» and «-ee»: guar-an-TEE; the u is silent. In «how many to guarantee» problems, think of the worst luck first, then add one. Trap: the answer is not the number of the wanted kind. Trap: with 2 colours of socks, 3 socks guarantee a pair.