Performative Verb | Verbs & Tenses | Grammar | Glossary | Ultius

The performative verb is a verb that is closely related to the performance of a given action. In fact, the defining feature of a performative verb is the fact ...   Take10%OFF—Expiresin h m s Usecodesave10uduringcheckout. ClaimOffer MadeinUSA LiveChat Chatwithus Human-powered SmartChat Chat,FAQs,files Messenger PoweredbyFacebook Self-serviceoptions ALISABot AI-poweredassistant SearchFAQs Fastanswers,nowaiting Ultius101 Newclient?Clickhere Didn'tfindwhatyou'relookingfor? RequestSupport Gethelpviaemail LiveChat   Moreoptions   ALISAChatbot   Messenger   LiveChatspecialist     +1(800)405-2972 Internationalsupportnumbers USA +1(800)405-2972Toll-free +1(702)979-7365Local/SMS CAN +1(800)597-3941Toll-free AUS +1(800)764-195Toll-free GBR +0(808)134-9867Toll-free More Ultius›Glossary›Grammar›VerbsandTenses›PerformativeVerb PerformativeVerb       Aperformativeverbisaverbthatnamesanillocutionaryforce.Itisusedinaperformativetoperformanillocutionaryacthavingthatforce. Definingtheperformativeverb Theperformativeverbisaverbthatiscloselyrelatedtotheperformanceofagivenaction. Infact,thedefiningfeatureofaperformativeverbisthefactthatsimplyspeakingitwillitselfresultinanactionbeingperformed.  Forexample,whenamantellshisbossthathe"resigns",thisstatementitselfwouldachievetheactionofresignation.  Thisisdifferentfromotherverbs.Forexample,ifyousaythatyou"write",thenthisdoesn'tactuallymakewritinghappen.Butsaying"Iresign"actuallymakesresignationhappen.  Grammaticalrulesandstyles Hereisanexampleoftheperformativeverbbeingusedcorrectlywithinthecontextofarealsentence.  "Asyourmother,Iherebypromiseyouthatifyougotosleepontimethisevening,youcanstayuplatetomorrow."  Inthissentence,"promise"isacorrectlyusedperformativeverb.  Now,hereisanexampleoftheperformativeverbbeingusedincorrectlywithinasentence.  "Thejudgeinformedthedefendantthathewassentencedtoservethirtyhoursofcommunityserviceinordertomakeupforhiscrime."  Inthissentence,"sentenced"isnotbeingusedasaperformativeverb,becauseitisinthepasttenseandthusdoesnotactuallymakeanactionhappen. Incaseyouarestillalittleconfusedaboutthenatureoftheperformativeverb,hereareacouplerulesyoucanfollowinordertomakesurethatyou'vegotthehangofit.  Ingeneral,theperformativeverbcanonlybeusedinthepresenttenseandspokeninthefirstperson.Thisisduetothefactthatitisonlywhentheseconditionsaremetthattheutteranceoftheperformativeverbcanitselfmakeagivenactionhappen.  Agoodwaytotestwhetheraverbisperformativewouldbetoseeifyoucaninsert"hereby"beforetheverb.Forexample,ajudgemaysay"Iherebysentenceyou";therefore,theverbsentencewouldpassthetestandqualifyasaperformativeverb.  Performativeverbsrepresentritualandformality Theperformativeverbiscloselyassociatedwithritual,ceremony,andformality,especiallyusefulwhendescribingritualisticeventsfrommajorworldreligions.Allverbs,ofcourse,representactions.However,theperformativeverbisitselfanaction:merelyspeakingitactuallymakesthecorrespondingactionhappenintheworld. Thiscanonlyoccurwithinasocialorinterpersonalcontextinwhichwordsareunderstoodashavingthiskindofpower,andinwhichpeoplegenerallybelievethatthespeakerisauthorizedtouttertheperformativeverbthatheisinfactuttering.Withtheperformativeverb,then,thereisacloserelationshipbetweenlanguageandpower,undergirdedbythesymbolicculturalsystemofagivenpeoplegroup.  Thisiswhytheperformativeverbcanreallyonlybeusedwithinthepresenttense:itisonlyinthepresentthatonecanactuallymakeanewactiontakeplace,andtheperformativeverbisdefinedbyitscapacitytomakesuchanactiontakeplace.Inmodernsociety,onethinksofcourtroomsorweddingswhenitcomestotheperformativeverb,duetothesimplefactthatthesearethemostcommonpublicceremoniesthatcometomindinthesetimes.Narrowercontexts,however,arealsopossible,suchas(forexample)whenonepersonformallyapologizestoanotherperson.  TestedDaily ClicktoVerify AboutTheAuthor ThispostwaswrittenbyUltius. Navigation Services Company Contact SupportDesk +1-800-405-2972 Submitbugreport Connect A+BBBRating! Ultiusisthetrustedproviderofcontentsolutionsforconsumersaroundtheworld.ConnectwithgreatAmericanwritersandget24/7support. ©2022Ultius,Inc. Terms Privacy FairUse FreeMoneyForCollege! Yeah.Youreadthatright—We'regivingawayfreescholarshipmoney!Ournextdrawingwillbeheldsoon. Ournextwinnerwillreceiveover$500infunds.Fundscanbeusedfortuition,books,housing,and/orotherschoolexpenses.Applytodayforyourchancetowin! *Wewillnevershareyouremailwiththirdpartyadvertisersorsendyouspam. **Byprovidingmyemailaddress,IamconsentingtoreasonablecommunicationsfromUltiusregardingthepromotion. Nothanks,Idon'tneedascholarshipbecauseI'mnotastudent. NameSamanthaM. FromPepperdineUniversity'22 StudiesPsychology Won$2,000.00 AwardSEEDScholarship AwardedSep.5,2018 Thanksforfillingthatout. Checkyourinboxforanemailaboutthescholarshipandhowtoapply. OK,closethis LearnmoreaboutUltiusscholarships