Giáo án tiếng Anh 12 - Promise /ˈprɒməs, ˈprɒmɪs ~ ˈprɑː-/verb

rtake formal to make an official or legal promise to do something: 
 - The government undertook to keep price increases to a minimum. 
 - The two sides undertook to respect each other’s territory. 
commit to something formal to make a firm and definite promise to do something important, which will affect 
you for a long time and which could result in serious effects if you fail: 
- Bobby felt unready to commit to a romantic relationship. 
 - A group of 11 companies has committed to developing a new passenger plane. 
1. to promise something 
promise /ˈprɒmɪs, ˈprɒməsǁˈprɑː-/ [intransitive/transitive verb not usually in progressive] to tell someone that you 
will definitely do something that they want you to do or expect you to do: ▪ ‘I can’t take you to the beach today, 
after all.’ ‘But you promised!’ 
promise (that)▪ Hurry up, we promised we wouldn’t be late this time.▪ Richardson apologized and promised that 
appropriate action would be taken to fix the problem.promise to do something▪ The government had promised to 
investigate the cause of the accident. 
promise somebody (that)▪ I promised the kids I’d take them to a movie.promise somebody something promise to 
give someone something▪ I promised Jamie a ride to school this morning. 
assure /əˈʃʊəʳ/ [transitive verb] to tell someone that something will definitely happen or is definitely true, so that 
they are less worried or more confident: assure somebody (that)▪ The doctor assured me that I wouldn’t feel any 
pain.▪ The airline has assured travellers there will be no further delays. 
give somebody your word /ˌgɪv somebody jɔːʳ ˈwɜːʳd/ [verb phrase] to promise someone very seriously and 
sincerely that you will do something: ▪ Campus officials had given her their word. There was to be a raise in 
salary each year. 
give sb your word (that)▪ I’ve given him my word that we’ll take care of the house like it was ours.give 
somebody your word of honour/honor▪ He had given her his word of honor that he would respect her wishes. 
swear /sweəʳ/ [transitive verb] to make a very serious promise, especially publicly or in a law court: swear 
(that)▪ During the ceremony you swear that you will serve the country loyally. 
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swear to somebody (that)▪ I swore to myself that I’d never do anything like it again.swear to do something▪ Do 
you swear to tell the truth?swear allegiance promise to be loyal to a country▪ New citizens are asked to swear 
allegiance during the citizenship ceremony. 
vow /vaʊ/ [transitive verb] to firmly promise something, especially to yourself - used especially in literature: vow 
to do something▪ Ben vowed to avenge his mother’s death. 
vow (that)▪ Daley vowed that the Police Department would be reformed. 
guarantee /ˌgærənˈtiː/ [transitive verb] to promise that something will happen or be provided, because you are 
going to make sure of this: ▪ The king had guaranteed our safety on our journey. 
guarantee (that)▪ We guarantee that you won’t lose your jobs when the company is taken over.▪ I can’t guarantee 
the plan will work, but I’ll give it a try. 
guarantee somebody something guarantee to give someone something▪ The first emigrants to Canada were 
guaranteed 200 acres of land each. 
guaranteed [adjective] ▪ same day delivery guaranteed▪ The fridge is guaranteed for one year. the company that 
makes it promises to repair or replace it if it breaks within a year. 
commit to /kəˈmɪt tuː/ [verb phrase] to promise to do something that will take a long time or involve a lot of 
effort: ▪ Young people still need to learn how to commit to a job and have goals for themselves.commit to to do 
something▪ The organization needs volunteers who can commit to work four hours a week. 
committed [adjective] be committed to doing something▪ The church is committed to changing the role it allows 
women. 
pledge /pledʒ/ [transitive verb] to publicly or officially promise to give help, support, or money to an 
organization, group, or person: pledge to do something▪ Many rock stars have pledged to support the campaign 
to save the rainforests. 
pledge something to somebody▪ The government has pledged £500,000 worth of aid to the drought- stricken 
area. 
pledge support/money/help, etc.▪ Britain has pledged £1.3 million to the UN for refugee work.▪ The U.S. has 
pledged aid to the country.pledge allegiance promise to be loyal to a country▪ Should new citizens of Canada 
pledge allegiance to the queen of Great Britain? 
2. a promise 
promise /ˈprɒmɪs, ˈprɒməsǁˈprɑː-/ [countable noun] a statement telling someone that you will definitely do 
something that they want you to do: ▪ ‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’ ‘Is that a promise?’ 
promise of▪ The refugees are relying on promises of food and aid from the West.make a promise▪ Making 
promises is risky for a company, but it usually does result in improved customer relations. 
promise to do something▪ Scott made a campaign promise not to raise taxes.promise that▪ He left with a promise 
that he would be back before six. 
assurance /əˈʃʊərəns/ [countable noun] a promise that something will definitely happen or is definitely true, 
which makes someone less worried or more confident: ▪ Despite all their assurances, they broke the agreement 
and signed a deal with a rival company. 
assurance that▪ I need an assurance that you will support me. 
give somebody an assurance▪ The manager gave me his personal assurance that the parts would be here today. 
give somebody an assurance about/on▪ His lawyer was unwilling to give him any kind of assurance about the 
outcome of the trial. 
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guarantee /ˌgærənˈtiː/ [countable noun] a promise that something will happen or be provided, because you are 
going to make sure of this. A guarantee is also a formal written promise by a company to repair or replace a 
product free if it has a fault within a fixed period of time: guarantee that▪ The contract contains a guarantee that 
the building will be finished within 6 months.▪ After the Second World War, Belgium wanted a guarantee that it 
would not be invaded again. 
under guarantee within the period when a company promises to repair a product free of charge if something goes 
wrong▪ Is the camera still under guarantee? 
commitment /kəˈmɪtmənt/ [countable noun] a promise to do something that will take a long time or involve a lot 
of effort: ▪ The peace talks ended with smiles and handshakes, but no commitment.▪ Marriage, ideally, is a 
lifelong commitment. 
make a commitment▪ The organization has made a commitment to plant 5,000 trees in San 
Francisco.commitment to▪ The American adviser expressed America’s commitment to Africa’s economic 
development.commitment to doing something▪ The governor has a strong commitment to creating jobs in the 
state. 
pledge /pledʒ/ [countable noun] a public or official promise to give help, support, or money to an organization, 
group, or person: ▪ The Government has fulfilled at least 50% of its election pledges. 
pledge of▪ We have received pledges of help from various organizations.pledge to do something▪ The coup 
leaders have ignored their pledges to hold democratic elections. 
oath /əʊθ/ [countable noun] a formal and serious promise, especially one that someone makes in a court of law: 
take/swear an oath make a promise▪ Adams was elected to the British Parliament, but refused to swear an oath to 
the English Queen. 
under oath while you have made a promise to tell the truth in a court of law▪ He admitted that he had lied under 
oath. 
oath of office the promises you make when you are elected to a government position▪ The president takes the oath 
of office in a public ceremony.oath to do something▪ Public officials must take an oath to support the U.S. 
Constitution. 
undertaking /ˌʌndəʳˈteɪkɪŋ/ [countable noun] a public or official promise to do something, especially something 
difficult, which needs a lot of effort or money, and that you will be responsible for making sure that it is done: 
undertaking to do something▪ Khrushchev demanded an American undertaking not to attack Cuba.undertaking 
that▪ Before we can release you, we need an undertaking that you will not leave town before the trial. 
3. what you say when you promise something 
I promise /aɪ ˈprɒm sǁ-ˈprɑː-/: ▪ ‘Promise me you’ll write to me.’ ‘I promise.’I promise (that)▪ I won’t go. I 
promise I won’t go. 
I give you my word/you have my word /aɪ ˌgɪv juː maɪ ˈwɜːʳd, juː ˌhæv maɪ ˈwɜːʳd/ say this when you want to 
make a very serious and sincere promise: ▪ You won’t regret this - I give you my word. 
I give you my word/you have my word (that)▪ I give you my word that I’ll do everything I can.▪ Do I have your 
word, Mr Bigelow, that this problem will be corrected? 
cross my heart /ˌkrɒs maɪ ˈhɑːʳtǁˌkrɔːs-/ say this when you are making a promise to someone you know well - 
used especially by children: ▪ ‘Do you promise?’ ‘Cross my heart.’ 
I swear /aɪ ˈsweəʳ/ say this when you are making a very firm promise, that you will never break. I swear is used 
in court: ▪ I swear that the evidence I give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 
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4. to do what you promised to do 
keep your promise/word /ˌkiːp jɔːʳ ˈprɒm s, ˈwɜːʳdǁ-ˈprɑː-/ [verb phrase] ▪ She was crying because she thought 
he had not kept his promise.▪ Respect your teenager’s privacy. If you promise not to tell her father, keep your 
word.keep your promise/word to do something▪ The government has kept its promise to cut taxes, but this has 
meant cuts in services, too. 
deliver /dɪˈlɪvəʳ/ [intransitive/transitive verb] to do or provide what you promised, especially in politics or 
business when people are uncertain whether you can do this: ▪ Election candidates frequently promise a lot more 
than they c