promising vs promised

[Litki]

Business Idiom in English, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #94 "Letter of Complaint (1)", question 10

and the machine came on Tuesday February 20th -- almost 5 weeks after the ......... delivery date.

(a) promising
(b) promised
(c) promises
(d) promise

Business Idiom in English, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #94 "Letter of Complaint (1)", answer 10

and the machine came on Tuesday February 20th -- almost 5 weeks after the promised delivery date.

Correct answer: (b) promised
_________________________

maybe promising or promised?

Litki

[Ralf]

Hi Litki,

'promised' is the past participle of 'to promise'. Here, it's used as an adjective and means as much as 'announced'.

'promising' is the present participle of 'to promise' and also used a adjective. But it differs in meaning and means as much as 'auspicious'.

Participles are often used as pre-modifiers (that means they precede and describe a noun).
_________________
Test of English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL Preparation & TOEFL Vocabulary
Learn more: How to Become an English Teacher