The pattern
"I promise not to" plus a verb makes a commitment to avoid something. "I promise not to tell anyone" reassures the person sharing a secret. "I promise not to be late again" follows an apology. The "not" goes between "promise" and "to", never after "to". That position is the grammar point of this lesson.
The positive "I promise to" works the same way: "I promise to call you tomorrow." In casual speech people often cut it to "I promise": "I won't tell. I promise." Short and just as binding.
Say it out loud
Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.
The positive: promise to, then the verb.
The short, casual version. Just as serious.
The honest answer when you are not sure you can keep it.
Check yourself
Practice · 3 min
Make a promise. Prompt on the left, one natural sentence on the right.
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Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.