 Among the concepts presented in the book is the distinction between the "illocutionary force" and the "propositional content" of an utterance.Searle does not precisely define the former as such, but rather introduces several possible illocutionary forces by example.According to Searle, the sentences...

... each indicate the same propositional content (Sam smoking habitually) but differ in the illocutionary force indicated (respectively, a statement, a question, a command and an expression of desire).