"break one's promise" 是英语中常用的动词短语,意为“违背诺言;食言;不守信用”(fail to do what one has promised)。
该短语的结构为 “break + 形容词性物主代词/名词所有格 + promise”,其中:
one's 需替换为与主语一致的代词(如 my, your, his, her, their 等)或名词所有格(如 Tom's, Mary's 等);
promise 是“诺言”的意思,为可数名词,可与冠词(a/the)或限定词(one's)搭配。
1、 直接陈述“食言”
主语 + break(s)/broke/has broken + one's promise
He broke his promise to pick me up.(他违背了来接我的诺言。)
Don't break your promise again—people will stop trusting you.(别再食言了——人们会不再信任你。)
2、 说明“违背做某事的诺言”
用 "break one's promise to do sth."(不定式作后置定语,修饰 promise)
I'm sorry I broke my promise to help you with the project.(对不起,我违背了帮你做项目的诺言。)
She will never break her promise to keep our secret.(她绝不会违背保守我们秘密的诺言。)
3、 用从句补充“诺言的具体内容”
用 "break one's promise that..."(that 引导同位语从句,解释 promise 的内容)
He broke his promise that he would pay back the money by the end of the month.(他违背了月底还钱的诺言。)
The company broke its promise that it would improve working conditions.(公司违背了改善工作条件的诺言。)
4、 与“信守诺言”对比
反义词组是 "keep one's promise"(信守诺言),常用来形成对比:
He always keeps his promise, so I'm surprised he broke it this time.(他总是信守诺言,所以这次他食言我很惊讶。)
过去时(强调已发生的食言行为):She broke her promise and didn't come to my birthday party.(她食言了,没去我的生日派对。)
现在完成时(强调对现在的影响):He has broken his promise so many times that no one believes him now.(他多次食言,现在没人信他了。)
祈使句(提醒或警告):Don't break your promise—integrity matters.(别食言——诚信很重要。)
"break one's promise" 是描述“不履行承诺”的常用表达,重点在于主语违背了自己之前做出的诺言。使用时需注意代词的一致性,并通过不定式或从句补充诺言的具体内容,让表达更清晰。