performative verbs

heyre essentially verbs that perform certain actions rather than simply
describing them (as verbs conventionally do).
For example, the verb to do, which normally expresses the action of
doing, can become a performative verb in a wedding ceremony. When
the bride and groom say, I do, they are performing the act of
marriage rather than simply stating it.
When a marrying couple says, I do, they are not simply describing an
event, but doing or performing it through the action of speaking.
NAME (used in Austins example of naming a ship)
I name this ship the Queen Elizabeth.
My parents went three days without naming me after I was born.
PRONOUNCE (another performative verb used in wedding
ceremonies)
Officiator: I now pronounce you man and wife.
PROMISE: to assure someone that you will do something in the future
I promise Ill never do it again.
He promised that he would never hold any secrets from me.
GUARANTEE: to promise or assure that something will be true
I guarantee that you will not regret buying this.
They always guarantee satisfactory service, but I personally am
never satisfied.
APOLOGIZE: to express to someone that you are sorry about
something
I apologize if you were ever offended by anything I said.
 You can never win a fight until the other person apologizes.
ADMIT: to confess to something, usually reluctantly
I admit that I was wrong, but I still know what Im talking about.
How could you ever admit something so outrageous?
CONFESS: to reveal that you ar e at fault for something or that you
have committed a crime
I confess that I tend to ramble a bit sometimes.
After hours of interrogation, the suspect finally confessed to the
crime.
THANK: to express gratitude about something
Thank you for giving me this opportunity.
My boss thanked me the other day for working the extra shifts
last minute.
REQUEST: to ask a favor
We request that you keep all bags below your seats during
departure.
Teresa has requested a leave from work so that she can take care
of her baby.
BEG: to plead to someone for something
Im begging you to let me come with you to Cancun.
Cameron has been begging to go to the bathroom for the past ten
minutes.
SUGGEST: to put something forward for consideration
I suggest that we leave sooner than later.
 Everyone suggested different things, but I decided to make my
own decision.
RECOMMEND: to put something forward as a good option; to
suggest something
If you want to lose weight, I recommend watching what you eat
instead of exercising more.
Are there any good movies that you recommend?
APPROVE: to agree to or accept something, often officially
I dont approve of the way you handled your relationship issues.
My mother has never approved of the way I dressed.
PERMIT: to allow something to happen
I permit you to enter the back room, but no one else.
What exactly are you permitted to do in the army?
ADVISE: to offer suggestions or recommend something
I advise that you come see me after class if you have an issue to
bring up.
My doctor has been advising me on things to do to keep my blood
pressure down.
ORDER: to tell somebody to do something
Jacob, I order you to go to your room.
Brian always tries to order people around in group projects.
COMMAND: to give an order to someone
I command you to do ten pushups every time you make a mistake.
What did your boss command you to do this time?
SENTENCE: to declare a punishment in court
I hereby sentence you to three years in prison.
She was only sentenced to two weeks of community service.
DECLARE: to say or announce something solemnly and emphatically
(sometimes used satirically)
After last night, I do declare that I will never drink again.
Not surprisingly, the judge declared the defendant guilty.
DENY: to insist that something is not true
I deny ever even meeting her.
He says that he can pass this test without studying, but hes
honestly denying the truth.
OBJECT: to openly disagree or express disapproval with something
I object to everything you just said about Suki.
Did anyone at the meeting object to your proposal?
FORBID: to refuse to allow something
I forbid you from telling anyone that I still sleep with a doll.
The U.S. government forbids anyone under 21 from drinking.
REFUSE: to be unwilling to do something
I refuse to be called bossy for doing my job.
I tried asking him to perform at the open mic, but he refused.
PREDICT: to say or guess that something will happen in the future
I dont predict that they will be together for long.
 Did the palm reader predict anything interesting about your
future?
WARN: to tell someone in advance about a possible danger or problem
Im warning you now not to date that disaster of a man.
Nobody warned me that this bus would go past my stop.
QUIT: to leave a job permanently
You cant fire me because I quit.
My friend quit her job from the caf last week.
REMIND: to cause someone to remember something
Im reminding you now to bring your toothbrush on the trip.
Did anyone remind Haley that were meeting at 3 instead of 4?