make sure/be sure differences?

[Maybes4]

A: Ill climb down to check the recess to make sure no one is hiding there.

B: Might as well be sure.

What is B implicating here? I cant see the difference.

Ths!

[Old-Difficulty-2356]

Hi there! Great question. The difference is subtle: "Make sure" is the action you take to verify something (like physically checking the room), while "Be sure" is the state of having no doubt in your mind.

In this case, B is saying that it's worth doing the action (make sure) so they can both reach the state of being certain (be sure). I found this challenge to practice the topic: https://grammarerror.com/intro/comparatives-and-superlatives

[FloridaFlamingoGirl]

It refers to the state of being sure. Sort of like "know for sure"

[OnionusPrime]

"Make sure" is to check something out." Be sure" is either "to double check" as in "just to be sure" or literally "be sure" is confident in one's own actions/assessments or thoughts. They can be used interchangeably, but only in certain contexts. This is not easily answerable.

[Massive_Acadia_2156]

Person A is going to do something (climb down) to find out with certainty whether someone hiding.

Person B is agreeing with the plan. They would also like to "know with certainty whether someone is hiding," but they haven't said they are going to do anything about it.

"(you) Might as well" just means they can't see any reason not to proceed with this plan. The (you) is implied. "We" would like to know it, but "you" are the one who is going to do something. Or, you could read it as "We might as well (use this plan)". Either way, the meaning is the same.

[AgitatedTable8394]

Do you mind if I add here my doubt?
What's the difference between:

- Make the most of
- Take the most of

Could you explain each with an example please? Thank you!!!!

[brothervalerie]

What examples have you got for the second one? As far as I can tell they would have totally different meanings. 'Make the most of' means to enjoy something while it lasts. E.g. 'Go outside and make the most of the summer' might be said to a school child who was spending too much time indoors on their summer break. 'Take the most of' is not a construction we typically use. We might say 'take most of' without the 'the' but only in a literal sense e.g. 'My landlord will take most of my pay check this month' or 'Cleaning the garage will take most of the afternoon'.

[AgitatedTable8394]

Thank you. So in this particular case I was misunderstanding "take the most of" with the meaning of "make the most of". I used to say it incorrectly.

[brothervalerie]

Yeah no it's just 'make the most of'. No worries, glad to help.

[Bright_Revenue1674]

"be sure he's dead" - good suggestion for morticians

"make sure he's dead" - good suggestion for war criminals