Breakdown of zettai ni yakusoku o mamorimasu.
をo
direct object particle
約束yakusoku
promise
守るmamoru
to keep
絶対 にzettai ni
absolutely
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Questions & Answers about zettai ni yakusoku o mamorimasu.
What does the に in 絶対に do?
It turns 絶対 (a noun/na-adjective meaning absolute) into an adverb meaning absolutely. So 絶対に modifies the verb 守ります. This is the same pattern as きれい → きれいに (beautiful → beautifully), 静か → 静かに (quiet → quietly).
Can I drop に and say 絶対 約束を守ります?
In casual speech, yes: people often say 絶対行く, 絶対守る. In polite or written Japanese, keep に; 絶対に is the standard form. Dropping に sounds colloquial/rough; slang like ぜってー also exists.
Why is 約束 marked with を?
Because 守る is a transitive verb: you keep something. 約束を守る is a fixed, natural collocation. In casual speech, を can be dropped: 約束(を)守る.
Can I say 約束は絶対に守ります? What changes?
Yes. は topicalizes and emphasizes 約束: as for the promise(s), I will definitely keep them. It can imply contrast (for example: 他のことは忘れるけど、約束は絶対に守ります). を is the neutral object marker with no special contrast.
Does 守る mean protect? Which meaning is used here?
守る has multiple senses:
- Protect/defend (子どもを守る)
- Keep/observe (法律を守る, 時間を守る, 約束を守る) Here it means keep/observe a promise.
How is 約束を守ります different from 約束します?
- 約束します: I promise (you) — making the promise now.
- 約束を守ります: I will keep the (already-made) promise. To say you won’t break it, 約束を破りません is common.
Why use 守ります instead of 守る? What are the forms?
守ります is polite (ます-form). 守る is plain/casual. Common pairs:
- Past: 守りました / 守った
- Negative: 守りません / 守らない
- Volitional/suggestion: 守りましょう / 守ろう
Does this sentence express the future? Japanese has no future tense, right?
Right. Japanese uses the non-past for present or future. 守ります here (with 絶対に) expresses strong intention about the future. You can make intention explicit with 守るつもりです, or determination with 必ず守ってみせます.
Can I move 絶対に around in the sentence?
Yes. Adverbs are flexible:
- 絶対に、約束を守ります。
- 約束を絶対に守ります。
- 約束は絶対に守ります。 Meaning stays the same; placement adjusts emphasis or rhythm.
Is 絶対に used with negatives to mean never?
Yes. 絶対に〜ない means absolutely not/never, e.g., 絶対に行きません. For promises, a natural negative is 約束を絶対に破りません (I will absolutely not break the promise).
What’s the difference between 絶対に and 必ず?
Both can mean definitely, but:
- 必ず = without fail/for sure; neutral and common in instructions and commitments (必ず約束を守ります).
- 絶対に = absolute, categorical; stronger and often used with negatives (絶対に行かない). In affirmations, 必ず can sound softer and more natural.
Who is the subject here? Do I need 私は?
The subject is understood from context (usually I). Adding 私は is fine if you need contrast or clarity, but it’s normally omitted: (私は) 絶対に約束を守ります。
Do I need spaces between the words?
No. Spaces are for learners. Standard writing is 絶対に約束を守ります。
How do you pronounce it?
ぜったいに やくそく を まもります (zettai ni yakusoku o mamorimasu). Pronounce each vowel clearly; modern を is pronounced like “o.”
Are there other ways to say keep a promise?
Yes:
- 約束を果たす: fulfill a promise (focus on achieving what was promised).
- 約束を守る: keep/observe a promise (focus on not breaking it). Both are natural, with a slight nuance difference.