Meaning
Used to emphasize that something is obvious, expected, or agreed upon.
Primary Function
Emphatic agreement / obviousness marker
Communicative Purpose
To acknowledge a point as self-evident or to politely grant a request.
Pattern
Of course
Core Structure
Of course
Função primária
Emphatic agreement / obviousness marker
Propósito comunicativo
To acknowledge a point as self-evident or to politely grant a request.
Situações de gatilho
Everyday conversation, polite replies, emphasising known facts.
Contextos
All domains (social, professional, informal).
Padrão
Of course
Estrutura central
Of course
Slots de substituição
none
Colocados típicos
- of course not
- yes of course
- but of course
Substituições comuns
- naturally
- certainly
- obviously
Erros comuns
Overusing it can sound patronising or imply the question was silly.
Similar / contraste
naturally (softer), obviously (can be rude), certainly (more formal).
Interferências
In some cultures, frequent “of course” is polite; in English it can imply the question was silly.
Família do chunk
- Obviousness and agreement
Nuance
Can convey friendliness when used appropriately; misused may signal condescension.
Efeito pragmático
Varies from warm agreement to subtle condescension depending on tone and context.
Dica de memória
“Of course!” – the obvious yes
Nota
Used in response to obvious statements or polite requests to show agreement or concede a point.
Upgrade path
of course → naturally → it goes without saying
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