Exercise 40: Give a situation in which each of the following utterances occurs, interpret its

meaning and then classify it according to different types of speech acts.

1. ‘Let’s go to our place for a beer.’

A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2. ‘I don’t know how to answer this question.’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. ‘Mind your head!’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4. ‘How nice to see you!’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
5. ‘Who will believe this story?’
A:
________________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
6. ‘Is it right to cheat in any exam?’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
7. ‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’
A: _____________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
8. ‘I was so sorry to hear about your loss.’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
9. ‘I’m dead tired now!’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
10. ‘I’m awfully sorry I wasn’t at the meeting this morning.’
11. ‘If you don’t try your best, you’ll fail in the exam.’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
12. ‘Why don’t you take a seat?’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
13. ‘How dare you speak to her like that?’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
14. ‘You look lovely today in your new dress.’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
15. ‘I’d sell it if I were you.’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
16. ‘I’ll be right back.’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
17. ‘I beg you to reconsider your decision.’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
18. ‘Do you think I’m an idiot?’
A: _____________________________________________
19. ‘May I hand in my final paper the day after tomorrow.’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
20. ‘We select Alfred as the head of our group.’
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________

2. For each of the following utterances, provide two situations so that one utterance performs
two different acts. Interpret the utterances and identify the acts performed in the light of the
situations you provide.
1. ‘Do you feel better today?’
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2. ‘I beg your pardon.’
SITUATION 1:
A: B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. ‘It’s going to rain.’
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________

B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4. ‘It’s snowing.’
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________

B: ______________________________________________