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Speech act verbs

339f

The present simple is used with speech act verbs. These are verbs which explicitly

label the speaker’s communicative intention in the performance of speech acts

(e.g. promising, denying, apologising, demanding):

I won’t forget this time, I 

promise.

(I won’t forget this time, I’m promising.)

I 

swear I saw tears in his eyes.

(I’m swearing I saw tears in his eyes.)

I 

agree dangerous drivers should be put in prison rather than fined.

I 

name this ship Beatrice II.

In a similar way, the present simple is used in formal statements and in business or

legal communications:

We 

enclose our cheque for £2,300 in settlement of invoice no. 10878.

I 

write to inform you that you have been successful in your application to join

the service.

(‘I’m writing to inform you …’ would be less formal)