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Promise，Swear，Vow，Pledge
发誓、承诺
🚩promise是“向某人许诺；答应某人要给予某物，或者让他得到某物；答应某人要做到什么事情”，柯林斯的解释是If you promise that you will do something, you say to someone that you will definitely do it.，或者If you promise someone something, you tell them that you will definitely give it to them or make sure that they have it.。
如：
I can't promise, but I'll do my best. 我不能保证做到, 但我一定尽力而为。
He has promised a thorough investigation into the affair. 他已答应彻查此事。
The post office has promised to resume first class mail delivery to the area on Friday...邮局承诺于星期五恢复对这个地区第一类邮件的递送。
He had promised that the rich and privileged would no longer get preferential treatment...他已经保证富人和特权阶层不会再得到优惠待遇。
🚩swear是“极其认真、明确或郑重地说或允诺某事，发誓要，郑重承诺”，牛津词典解释为say or promise (sth) very seriously, definitely or solemnly。
如：
Alan swore that he would do everything in his power to help us.艾伦许诺要尽其所能帮助我们。
I swear I've told you all I know.我发誓我已经把我所知道的全都告诉你了。
🚩vow是“发誓，起誓”，柯林斯解释为If you vow to do something, you make a serious promise or decision that you will do it.。它的用法比较正式，常常用在书面语种。Vow与swear的区别在于，swear可以指发誓的事情在过去、现在、将来都可以；而vow常常指发誓将来一定要做某事。
如：
While many models vow to go back to college, few do...很多模特发誓要重回大学校园，但很少有人做到。
I solemnly vowed that someday I would return to live in Europe...我郑重发誓，总有一天我将回到欧洲生活。
🚩pledge是“保证给予支持等，以誓言、名誉等做担保”，牛津词典的解释是promise solemnly to give (support, etc.); give (one's word, honour, etc.) as a pledge；它还有一层含义是“保证某人或者自己会做某事情”，牛津的解释是promise solemnly that somebody or someone will do something or support a cause, etc.。它常常用在政治语境中。
如：
pledge allegiance(ie loyalty) to the king 发誓效忠国王
pledge a donation (to a charity) 承诺（向慈善机构）捐献
The Government has pledged itself to send aid to the famine victims. 政府已承诺赈济饥民。
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