What are speech act verbs?

Speech Act Verbs

Speech act verbs are verbs that describe an action we perform by speaking. They focus on the function of language (what the speaker is doing). The term ‘speech act verbs’ is the general term from linguistics and is used to cover many types of speaking actions (committing, requesting, apologising, etc.).

Performative Verbs

Performative verbs form a special type of speech act verbs where saying the verb = doing the action. The action happens by the act of saying it.

I promise to call you. (the promise happens right now)
I apologise for being late. (the apology is the act of saying it)
I declare the meeting open.

They are verbs describe what we do when we say something. If I say “I promise I’ll call you”, I’m not just giving information — I’m making a promise. If I say “I apologise for being late”, I’m not just talking — I’m apologising. So the verb itself (promise, apologise, suggest, refuse, agree, invite…) shows the action of speaking.

Not all speech act verbs are performative.

She promised to help (reporting) ≠ performative
I promise to help (performative)

Reporting Verbs

Reporting Verbs are the verbs used to report what someone else said. They are used in reported speech.

Direct speech: He said, “I will help.” – Reported speech: He promised to help.

Reporting verbs don’t always perform the action themselves, they just report it.

Main Types of Speech Act Verbs

Commissives (commit to something in the future): promise, swear, guarantee, offer, agree, refuse
She promised to help.

Directives (try to make someone do something): ask, order, advise, invite, suggest, recommend, warn
He advised me to rest.

Expressives (show feelings or attitudes): apologise, thank, congratulate, complain
She apologised for the mistake.

Declaratives (officially change reality by speaking): declare, announce, pronounce, resign
He declared the meeting open.

Assertives (state something as true): say, claim, report, admit, explain
They admitted making a mistake.

Note:

All performative verbs are speech act verbs.
Some speech act verbs are used as reporting verbs.
But not all reporting verbs are performative.