promise, allow
这两个词都可译为“答应”,它们的区别是：
allow含义是“允许”,而promise含义是“应承”。例如：
He has allowed me to come.
他允许我来。
He promised me to come.
他答应我他会来。
promise, consent
这两个词都有“答应”的意思。它们的区别是：
promise是“自己主动答应”这一概念,含有自觉主动的意味; 而consent则是“答应人家的要求”,含有被动的意味。试比较:
Our director has promised to make a speech.
我们的主任已答应作个报告。
(是他主动答应的)
We asked our director to make a speech and he consented.
我们要求主任作个报告,他答应了。
(是我们要求的)
promise, contract, covenant, engage, pledge
这组词都有“允诺”的意思。它们的区别是：
promise指作出口头或书面的许诺,但仅指主观意愿,并不暗示一定能实现或有实现的基础; engage指在正式或重大场合用誓言、条约等许下有约束力的诺言或作出可以信赖的保证,尤指订婚; pledge指用行动或言语作出庄严的许诺或正式保证; covenant指订立双方或多方共同遵守的协议; contract指订立慎重并且通常有法律效力的合同或协议。例如:
Our son is engaged to a nice young girl.我们的儿子已跟一位漂亮的女孩订了婚。
I covenant to pay 5000 pounds a year to help rebuild the college.我立约保证每年将付5000英镑帮助重建学院。
They have pledged that any detail given to them will remain confidential.他们已保证,给他们提供的任何细节将予以保密。
Many councils are contracting out services such as rubbish collection to private companies as a way of cutting costs.许多市政会把垃圾收集这样的服务项目包给私人公司以减少费用。
promise, keep one's word
这两者都含有“许诺”之意。它们的区别是：
promise指“许诺”,只指意图,而不指义务,只指美好的愿望,不指坏的意图; keep one's word则指作出promise后遵守自己的诺言。例如:
He promised to come and see me today, but he failed to keep his word.他答应今天来看我,但他没能守约。
I'll keep my word;I'll tell him everything.我将遵守诺言,把一切告诉他。
promise, permit
这两个词共同的意思是“允许”。它们的区别是：
permit通常含有积极地、正面地“允许”的意义,例如通过法令或正式条文“允许”某件事; promise 作“答应”解时,含有“保证”之意,指答应或保证自己要做某一件事。例如:
He has promised a thorough investigation into the affair.他已经答应彻底查办此事。
下面三句意思相同：
They promised me an immediate answer.
They promised me to give an immediate answer.
They promised me that they would give an immediate answer.
他们答应我立即作出答复。
