promise
verbVerb Forms
Idioms | present simple I / you / we / they promise | |
| he / she / it promises | |
| past simple promised | |
| past participle promised | |
| -ing form promising |
- [intransitive, transitive]
to tell somebody that you will definitely do or not do something, or that something will definitely happen 许诺；承诺；答应；保证 ‘We haven't got time to go to the park.’ ‘But you promised!’ “我们没有时间去公园，”。“但你答应过的，”。 - promise to do something
The college principal promised to look into the matter. 学院院长答应调查这个问题。 ‘Promise not to tell anyone!’ ‘I promise.’ “你要保证不告诉别人！” “我保证。” They arrived at 7.30 as they had promised. 他们按说定的 7:30 到达了。 - promise something
The government has promised a full investigation into the disaster. 政府已承诺对这次灾难进行全面调查。 I'll see what I can do but I can't promise anything. 我会看看我能做什么，但不能给予任何承诺。 - promise (that)…
The brochure promised (that) the local food would be superb. 旅游指南中保证说当地有上佳的美食。 - promise somebody (that)…
You promised me (that) you’d be home early tonight. 你曾向我保证今晚会早回家的。 - promise something to somebody
He promised the money to his grandchildren. 他答应把这笔钱给孙儿孙女们。 - promise somebody something
He promised his grandchildren the money. 他答应给孙儿孙女们这笔钱。 - promise yourself something
I've promised myself some fun when the exams are over. 等考试完了，我打算好好玩玩。 - promise (somebody) + speech
‘I'll be back soon,’ she promised. “我马上回来。” 她答应说。
More Like This Verbs with two objectsVerbs with two objectsExtra ExamplesHe repeatedly promised to cut taxes in his campaign. 竞选中他一再承诺要减税。 I am sending you information on holidays as promised. 正如所许诺的那样，我现在给你寄去关于度假的资料。 I can definitely promise you that I'll do all I can to help. 我可以明确地向你保证，我将尽我所能提供帮助。 I can't promise I'll be there. 我不能保证我会去那里。 She promised faithfully that she would come. 她信誓旦旦地答应会来。 I've promised my old computer to Jane. 我已答应把旧电脑给简了。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- faithfully
- solemnly
- initially
- …
- can
- cannot
- seem to
- …
- to
- as promised
- I can’t promise anything
- [transitive]
to make something seem likely to happen; to show signs of something 使很可能；预示 - it promises to be something
It promises to be an exciting few days. 那可望是兴奋刺激的几天。 - promise something
There were dark clouds overhead promising rain. 天上乌云密布，预示就要下雨。
Extra ExamplesThe plan seemed to promise a new beginning. 这个计划似乎预示着新的开端。 It was a disappointing end to a season which had promised so much for the team. 这个赛季该队本来大有希望，但结局却令人失望。 The new drug promises to bring relief to thousands of asthma sufferers. 这种新药可能会让成千上万的哮喘患者症状得以缓解。
More Like This Verbs usually followed by infinitivesVerbs usually followed by infinitives - it promises to be something
Word Originlate Middle English: from Latin promissum ‘something promised’, neuter past participle of promittere ‘put forth, promise’, from pro- ‘forward’ + mittere ‘send’.
Idioms
I (can) promise you
promise (somebody) the earth/moon/world
- (informal)
to make promises that will be impossible to keep 作出不可能实现的承诺 Politicians promise the earth before an election, but things are different afterwards. 政治家在选举前承诺地球，但选举后情况就不同了。