Word function
- 1. FUNCTIONS OF WORDS IN CONTEXT
- 2. Sentence Structure as a Key to Meaning Why is it important to identify the structureof a sentence? Reading requires more than knowing the meaning of individual words. We have to know how individual words combine together to produce a meaningful group We also need to know how these groups of words combine together to produce meaningful sentences.
- 3. Which elements make up the basic sentences. What each element looks like (form). The position of each element in the sentence. What kind of information each element brings to the sentence. We can do this if we know:
- 4. Form and Function One way to organize sentence structure is to think of form and function. When we talk about form, we mean word classes such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs, among others. When we talk about function, we refer to these structures in context. For example, the word “outside” is an adverb. That is its form. But when we look at it in context, we find out that it might have different functions.
- 5. Examples In this case, the adverb is telling us where the puppy is sleeping. Its function is adverbial In this case, the same adverb outside is qualifying the noun “puppy.” This means that it is not any puppy, it is a specific puppy of which I’m talking about. Its function is adjectival. The puppy is sleeping outside. The puppy outside is mine.
- 6. Main Functions There are four main functions of structures in English: Adverbial (ADV) Adjectival (ADJ) Nominal (N) Verbal (V) They have the same function that… ❖ a noun (being subjects or objects) ❖ an adjective (modifying nouns) ❖ an adverb (modyfying verbs or adjectives) ❖ a verb (relating to actions, moods or states) … has in a sentence.
- 7. Nominals Nouns, pronouns, names, reflexives: Courage is one of the hallmarks of a hero. Laura is really popular. I like her a lot. Noun phrases: The old house needs repairment. -ing endings: Jogging is really popular. to-infinitives: I like to swim.
- 8. Adjectivals Adjectives: The kind man welcomed me. Nouns: I need a health insurance. -ing endings: Noise is so annoying! -ed/en endings: He was really confused. to-infinitives: She didn’t have the skills to work here. Prepositional phrases: The ski resorts along the Wasatch Mountain Range are excellent. Genitive case: The prize helped increase Ana’s confidence.
- 9. Adverbials What is an adverbial? An adverbial is a word o group of words that modifies verbs. They give additional information about the action or situation and answer questions such as: When? Where? How? Why? In spite of which event? For what purpose? On what condition?
- 10. Adverbials Adverb: She’s practically deaf. -ing endings: I’m standing with my arms at my sides crying. Prepositional phrases: Before my birthday, I’ll have an exam. Nominals: I go to the beach every summer.
- 11. Verbals or Verb Phrases Verbs: He met her last year. Auxiliaries + verbs: I will go to the party. They are resting after a long day. She has been making a cake.