vow vs swear

vow is more like 一個承諾
swear 就係發誓
vow同swear既分別就係承諾同發誓既分別
.兩者意思差不多
用法就唔一樣... 分別如下

swear 比較多D平時用
e.g. I swore I was telling the truth.
我發誓我說的是真相.
唔會話 I vowed I was telling the truth.
好似中文噤
平時都唔會用 "我承諾我說的是真相." 啦
隨非係法庭 or etc

vow 就比較 formal
係好認真既場合先用 (雖然swear都可以係認真場合用)
好似頭先題過既法庭.
或者 e.g. 婚禮
They said their vows infront of the altar.
他們在聖壇作出承諾.

N.B. vow 可以用做noun(名詞)
swear就唔可以啦

希望幫到你 =)

2008-01-12 00:14:34 補充：
ah p.s. swear can also mean 講粗口容易被人誤會小心唔好用錯!

vow means
n.[C]
1. 誓,誓言,誓約[(+of)][+to-v]
We made a vow to stay friends forever.
我們發誓永遠做朋友。
2. 鄭重宣言;許願
My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.
我父母許願,每星期日都去做禮拜。
3. 立誓出家;遁入空門
vt.
1. 發誓要(做)[+to-v][+(that)]
I vowed never to reveal the secret.
我發誓決不洩漏這一祕密。
2. 鄭重宣告[+(that)]
She vowed that she would take the matter to court.
她鄭重宣佈要把這事訴諸法律。
vi.
1. 發誓,許願
2. 鄭重宣告

swear means
vi.
1. 發誓;宣誓
They refused to swear on a Bible.
他們拒絕手按《聖經》發誓。
2. 詛咒;罵髒話[(+at)]
What is the woman swearing at?
那女人在咒罵什麼?
vt.
1. 發(誓);宣(誓)
Before giving evidence you have to swear an oath.
在作證之前你得先發誓。
2. 發誓要;起誓保證[+to-v][+(that)]
The witness swore to tell the truth.
證人起誓保證講真話。
3. 【口】斷言;保證說[W][Y][+(that)]
He swore that he had never talked with the girl.
他發誓說,他從未與那個姑娘說過話。
4. 使宣誓[(+to)]
You must swear him to silence.
你一定要他發誓保持沈默。
5. 使宣誓就任[H][(+in)]
The new president will be sworn in January.
新總統將在一月份宣誓就職。
6. 宣誓對(罪行)作證
He swore treason against his friend.
他宣誓對他的朋友犯有叛國罪作證。