make a promise

Meaning

To tell someone seriously that you will definitely do something or that something will definitely happen. It is used to establish trust and commit to an action.

Examples

• Don't make a promise if you know you can't keep it.

  Don't make a promise if you know you can't keep it.

• He made a promise to his daughter that they would go to the zoo.

  He made a promise to his daughter that they would go to the zoo.

• I can make a promise that I will always support you.

  I can make a promise that I will always support you.

• She hates to make a promise she might have to break later.

  She hates to make a promise she might have to break later.

• Before they got married, they made a promise to love each other forever.

  Before they got married, they made a promise to love each other forever.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I did a promise to help him with his homework.

  ✓ I made a promise to help him with his homework.

  In English, the verb 'make' is used with 'promise'. We do not use the verb 'do'.

• ✗ He gave a promise that he would come to the party.

  ✓ He made a promise that he would come to the party.

  While 'give your word' is a natural phrase, 'give a promise' is unnatural. Use 'make a promise' instead.

Related Expressions

Practice

• You shouldn't ___ if you aren't sure you can do it.

  💡 commit to doing something

  Show answer

  make a promise

• I want to ___ to be more organized this year.

  💡 pledge or guarantee to myself

  Show answer

  make a promise