---
title: promise — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «promise» in the school dictionary: To say that you will certainly do something, or that something will certainly happen. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# promise

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** you, something, dark clouds, I, She, her · **What happens:** say, do, happen, promise, show, be · **To what, where:** something, noun, signs, rain, room, promise · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«promise» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [promise in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/promise.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To say that you will certainly do something, or that something will certainly happen.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:m1:1
# text = To say that you will certainly do something, or that something will certainly happen.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	say	say	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
4	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	7	nsubj	_	_
5	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
6	certainly	certainly	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	do	do	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
8	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	15	punct	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	15	cc	_	_
11	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	15	mark	_	_
12	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	15	nsubj	_	_
13	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
14	certainly	certainly	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
15	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **do** | future | you | something |  |  |  | certainly *property* | vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent something=Eventuality |
| 3 | **happen** | future | something |  |  |  |  | certainly *property* | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
A noun: what you say when you promise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:m2:1
# text = A noun: what you say when you promise.
1	A	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	what	what	PRON	WP	PronType=Int	6	obj	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
6	say	say	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	acl:relcl	_	_
7	when	when	ADV	WRB	PronType=Int	9	advmod	_	_
8	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
9	promise	promise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | you | a noun |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **promise** *speech: promise* | present | you |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To show signs that something will happen or be good: «dark clouds promise rain»; «a promising young player».

<!-- fold The tree, 18 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:m3:1
# text = To show signs that something will happen or be good: «dark clouds promise rain»; «a promising young player».
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	show	show	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	signs	sign	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	7	mark	_	_
5	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	7	nsubj	_	_
6	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	happen	happen	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
8	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
9	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	cop	_	_
10	good	good	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	15	punct	_	_
12	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	dark	dark	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	amod	_	_
14	clouds	cloud	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	15	nsubj	_	_
15	promise	promise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	2	ccomp	_	_
16	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	15	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	23	punct	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	23	det	_	_
21	promising	promise	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	23	amod	_	_
22	young	young	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	23	amod	_	_
23	player	player	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	23	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
25	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **show** | to-infinitive |  | signs |  |  |  |  | vn transfer\_mesg-37.1.1-1-1 «NP V NP S»: agent=Agent sign=Recipient clause=Topic |
| 2 | **happen** | future | something |  |  |  |  |  | vn occur-48.3-1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |
| 3 | **is** | infinitive | something *not said here* |  |  |  |  | good *property* | tree rules |
| 4 | **promise** *speech: promise* *in a quote* | present | dark clouds | rain |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent rain=Theme |
| 5 | **promise** *speech: promise* *in a quote* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
I promise to tidy my room after lunch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:x1:1
# text = I promise to tidy my room after lunch.
1	I	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	promise	promise	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	to	to	PART	TO	_	4	mark	_	_
4	tidy	tidy	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	xcomp	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	6	nmod:poss	_	_
6	room	room	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | present | I |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **tidy** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | I *not said here* | my room |  |  | after lunch |  | tree rules |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She kept her promise and came to my party.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:x2:1
# text = She kept her promise and came to my party.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	kept	keep	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	2	conj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	_
8	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	party	party	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **keep** | past | She | her promise |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent promise=Theme |
| 2 | **come** | past | She *not said here* |  |  | my party |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to party=Initial\_Location |
| 3 | **promise** |  | her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom promise «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
He broke his promise, and his friend was upset.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:x3:1
# text = He broke his promise, and his friend was upset.
1	He	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	broke	break	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	10	punct	_	_
6	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
7	his	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	8	nmod:poss	_	_
8	friend	friend	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	_
9	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
10	upset	upset	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **break** | past | He | his promise |  |  |  |  | vn hurt-40.8.3-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer promise=Patient |
| 2 | **is** | past | his friend |  |  |  |  | upset *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **promise** |  | his *= he* |  |  |  |  |  | nom promise «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't make promises you can't keep.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:x4:1
# text = Don't make promises you can't keep.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	make	make	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	promises	promise	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	_
5	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	ca	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	8	advmod	_	_
8	keep	keep	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **make** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | promises |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset promise=Product |
| 2 | **not** **keep** | can | you | promises *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn keep-15.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent promise=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Dad promised we would go to the beach on Sunday.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:x5:1
# text = Dad promised we would go to the beach on Sunday.
1	Dad	dad	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	nsubj	_	_
2	promised	promise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
4	would	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	go	go	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	to	to	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	beach	beach	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
9	on	on	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	Sunday	Sunday	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past | Dad |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **go** | would | we |  |  | the beach | sunday |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme to beach=Initial\_Location |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
We made a pinky promise.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:x6:1
# text = We made a pinky promise.
1	We	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	made	make	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	pinky	pinky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	_
5	promise	promise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | past | We | a pinky promise |  |  |  |  | vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent promise=Product |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The grey sky promised rain.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:x7:1
# text = The grey sky promised rain.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	grey	grey	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	sky	sky	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	_
4	promised	promise	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	acl	_	_
5	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | participle | the grey sky *not said here* | rain |  |  |  |  | vn future\_having-13.3 «NP V NP.theme (PP)»: agent=Agent rain=Theme |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
She is a promising swimmer.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:x8:1
# text = She is a promising swimmer.
1	She	she	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	_
2	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	promising	promise	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	5	amod	_	_
5	swimmer	swimmer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is a** | present | She | a promising swimmer |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
You promised you'd pay me to-day."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:promise:x9:1
# text = You promised you'd pay me to-day."
1	You	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	2	nsubj	_	_
2	promised	promise	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'd	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	pay	pay	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	ccomp	_	_
6	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	iobj	_	_
7	to	to	ADP	IN	_	9	case	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	day	day	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **promise** *speech: promise* | past | You |  |  |  |  |  | vn promise-37.13 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **pay** | would | you |  | me |  | day |  | vn pay-68-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent i=Asset |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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