directive (adj./n.)

In some classifications of SPEECH ACTS, an UTTERANCE whose purpose is to get other people to do something for the speaker. The LINGUISTIC means may be GRAMMATICAL (e.g. COMMANDS), SEMANTIC (appropriate vocabulary, e.g. please) or PHONOLOGICAL (e.g. persuasive INTONATION patterns).

A term used in some MODELS of GRAMMATICAL CLASSIFICATION to refer to a type of EXOCENTRIC CONSTRUCTION in which the initial ELEMENT is referred to as a director, and the directed element as the AXIS. For example, in kicked the ball, kicked is the director, the ball the axis; in in the box, in is the director (or directive PARTICLE), the box is the axis.