Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

MODALITY AND COMMISSIVES (OFFERS, INVITATIONS, PROMISES)

417

Commissives are speech acts where the speaker commits to a course of action;

they are typically associated with offering, inviting, promising, etc.

In sections 418–420, we look at the way modal verbs are used to realise such acts.

OFFERS

418

Offers are speech acts in which the speaker volunteers to do something beneficial

for the listener (or a third party) or give something to the listener (or a third

party). The listener may accept or reject the offer. Offers may be offers to do

something or offers of physical things (e.g. food, drink).