<def-root>A <fen>Speaker</fen> makes a commitment to an <fen>Addressee</fen> to carry out some future action. This may be an action desirable (as with <ment>promise</ment>) or not desirable (as with <ment>threaten</ment>) to the <fen>Addressee</fen>. Some of the words in this frame allow an <fen>Addressee</fen> to be expressed.
<ex><fex name="Speaker">You</fex> <t>promised</t> <fex name="Addressee">me</fex> <fex name="Message">you'd come to my graduation</fex>.</ex>
Other words cannot normally occur with an <fen>Addressee</fen>.
<ex><fex name="Speaker">Kim</fex> <t>undertook</t> <fex name="Message">to finish the project by June</fex>.</ex></def-root>
<def-root>The Speaker is the person who commits him/herself to do something. Speaker is usually the External Argument of predicative uses of the target or the Genitive modifier of a noun: <fex name="Speaker">Jo</fex> made a <t>promise</t> to me. <fex name="Speaker">Jo</fex> <t>promised</t> me she would cook dinner. <fex name="Speaker">Jo's</fex> <t>promise</t> to cook dinner came to nothing. </def-root>
<def-root>The Speaker's commitment can be made to an Addressee. With those words which allow this frame element to be expressed, Addressee usually occurs as a PP Complement headed by <ment>to</ment> or the (Indirect) Object of verbs: Kim made a <t>promise</t> <fex name="Addressee">to me</fex>. Kim <t>promised</t> <fex name="Addressee">me</fex> that everything would be okay. </def-root>
<def-root>An expression of the commitment made by the Speaker expresses the frame element Message. Message is expressed as a finite or non-finite clausal Complement or an NP Object: I <t>swore</t> <fex name="Message">that I would never make the same mistake again</fex>. The owner finally <t>consented</t> <fex name="Message">to sell the business</fex>. They <t>threatened</t> <fex name="Message">revenge</fex>. </def-root>
<def-root>Topic expressions are not very frequent in this frame. They can occur with noun targets. Jo made endless <t>promises</t> <fex name="Topic">about working harder at school</fex>. </def-root>
<def-root>As with other frames in the Communication domain, the <t>Medium</t> of communication may be expressed. Medium is the physical entity or channel used to transmit the Message. Bob <t>threatened</t> the workers <fex name="Medium">in Spanish</fex>. </def-root>
<def-root>The <fen>Manner</fen> in which the commitment is made.
<ex>"I'll help you any way I can", he promised <fex name="Manner">softly</fex></ex></def-root>
<def-root>The time period during which the <fen>Speaker</fen> makes the commitment.
<ex>The chancellor <fex name="Time">yesterday</fex> <t>promised</t> to increase defence spending in real terms next
year.</ex></def-root>
<def-root>The location in which the <fen>Speaker</fen> makes the commitment.
<ex>The july framework has reaffirmed what was <t>promised</t> <fex name="Place">at Doha</fex>.</ex></def-root>
<def-root>An action that the <fen>Speaker</fen> intends to accomplish by taking on the commitment.</def-root>
<def-root>This FE is used to indicate length of time from when Commitment event began to be repeated to when it stopped.</def-root>
Communication
Make_agreement_on_action
Going_back_on_a_commitment
FN: to acquiesce to another person\'s plan or proposal
COD: a solemn agreement
COD: agree or pay by solemn agreement
COD: a solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, as to the truth of something or as a commitment to future action
COD: a solemn promise or undertaking
COD: solemnly undertake to do or give something
COD: an assurance that one will do something or that something will happen
FN: to provide an assurance that one will do something or that something will happen
COD: state or promise solemnly or on oath.
COD: a statement of an intention to inflict injury, damage, or other hostile action as retribution.
COD: make or express a threat to (someone) or to do (something).
COD: formally guarantee, pledge, or promise.
COD: a formal pledge or promise to do something.
COD: freely offer to do something.
COD: a solemn promise.
COD: to obligate or pledge oneself
COD: a pledge or undertaking.
COD: solemnly promise to do something.