What is a performative verb?

A performative verb is a type of verb that, when used in the first person present tense, performs the action that it describes. In other words, the saying of the sentence is the doing of the action. For example, the sentence "I promise to be there" is a performative utterance, because by saying the sentence, the speaker is making a promise.

Performative verbs are often used in legal settings, such as when a judge says "I sentence you to 10 years in prison" or "I now pronounce you husband and wife." In these cases, the words themselves have a legal effect.

Performative verbs can also be used in other contexts, such as when someone says "I apologize for my mistake" or "I congratulate you on your success." In these cases, the words themselves are not legally binding, but they still convey a message about the speaker's intentions.

Here are some other examples of performative verbs:

- Agree

- Appoint

- Authorize

- Baptize

- Beg

- Bless

- Challenge

- Claim

- Command

- Declare

- Deny

- Forgive

- Grant

- Guarantee

- Inform

- Invite

- Lease

- Name

- Order

- Promise

- Pronounce

- Propose

- Quit

- Recommend

- Regret

- Reject

- Release

- Remand

- Rename

- Rent

- Request

- Resign

- Retire

- Sell

- Sentence

- Sign

- Swear

- Thank

- Threaten

- Vote

- Waive

- Warn

- Welcome

- Wish