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Performative verbs: when you say a word you do the action the word describes

An apology by Robleto via Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/grobleto/2651622914
Robleto via Flickr
When you use a word like "promise" or "apologise", you are doing the action by just saying the word. In those cases, use the present simple and not the continuous.

There is a group of verbs called "performative verbs". When you say these words, you actually do the action of the verb. If I say, "I apologise", by saying "apologise", I make my apology.

Compare this to a word like "run". If I say, "I run in the morning", then "run" just represents an action. Actually running is a different action. I cannot run just by saying "run".

When we use performative verbs, we use the present simple:

  1. I promise I will never do it again.
  2. They guarantee the quality of their service.
  3. She denies being responsible.
  4. We request your co-operation.

Other performative verbs are words like admit, advise, beg, confess, congratulate, declare, deny, forbid, guarantee, name, order, permit, predict, promise, quitrefuse, remind, request, resign,suggestthank and warn.

In formal English, we use modals to make our sentences more polite.

  1. must thank you for your help.
  2. We would deny any connection to our business.
  • ユーザー Matthew の写真
    Matthew
    About me
    I am from New Zealand. I lived in Japan and Brazil for a long time, but now I am back home in Auckland. I am the founder of Poligo. I like to play guitar and video games and surf when I get the chance. I have a wife and two boys.
    Experience
    I specialize in teaching English to professionals and English teachers. I have taught English since 2001 in Japan, New Zealand and Brazil. I speak Japanese & Portuguese. I am the founder of Poligo and The English Farm (an online school for business English).

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