Language Functions

Lecturer: Yaseen M.Taher

English Language Center-UoT
A language function refers to what students do with language as they
engage with content and interact with others. Functions represent the active
use of language for a specific purpose. Students use language functions in
order to express ideas, communicate with others, and show understanding
of content in an academic setting.
In oral language some common functions may include:
Giving instructions, making requests, defending an argument.
In academic writing we use a range of specific functions in order to
communicate ideas clearly. These include:
Describing processes, comparing or contrasting things or ideas,
classifying objects or ideas.
Language functions are used to accomplish several purposes, for example,
asking for opinions, suggestion, confirmation, agreement, etc.
Below are subjects that deal with language functions.
1-Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Modal auxiliary verbs appear before main verbs. They are used for a
number of purposes. Here are some of the most common:
Indicate Ability: She can speak English
Give Advice: You should see a doctor.
Express Certainty: We will finish by 8:00.
Indicate Possibility: It may rain tonight.
Indicate Obligation: You must attend the last class.
Give Permission: You may use your dictionaries during the exam
Indicate Past Habit: When I was little, we would go swimming every
day.
Unlike other verbs, modal verbs have only one form. In other words, no -s
is added to modal verbs to indicate third-person singular
He/she/it can/should/will/may/must move.

Exercise: A
Complete each sentence with the model auxiliary verb that provides
the meaning indicated in parentheses. (No 1 is an example)
1. You will (certainty) receive a flight confirmation in the mail.
2. We____________ (advice) leave in ten minutes.
3. There___________ (possibility) be a storm tonight.
4. A notary public__________ (obligation) sign the form.
5. Alicia _________ (ability) draw well.
6. As a child, he___________ (past habit) play soccer every day.
7.________________ (permission) I borrow your pencil?

Exercise: B
Give the purpose of using the models in the following sentences.
(No 1 is an example)
1. Pets must be on leashes. (obligation)
2. I may leave work early tonight. (………….)
3. The package will be deliver by noon. (…………)
4. They should be more careful. (…………….)
5. Can you come with us on Saturday? (…………..)
6. You may enter the restricted area. (……………..)
7. When we lived in San Diego, we would (past habit) often go to the
beach. (…………….)
2-Imperative
When you want to give instructions or directions, you can use the
imperative:
Instruction: Mix the ingredients together.
Direction: Turn right at the corner.
Imperatives are used for other purposes as well:
Request: Close the window, please.
Warning: Watch out!
Invitation: Come over to our house tonight
Wish: Have a nice time.
Using the verb in the imperative construction is easy because there are no
endings. Just use the base form (the form found in the dictionary).
Because imperatives are directed toward another person or other persons,
the subject you is understood, that is, it is not mentioned except for
emphasis.
Exercise: C
Choose a verb from the parenthesis to complete the imperative
sentences and give the function of them. (No 1 is an example)
(bake, be, answer, call, finish, have, meet, open, drive, turn)
1. Please answer the telephone. (Request)
2.____________________a nice weekend. (………)
3._____________________the door, please. (………)
4. Please _______________quiet. (………..)
5.__________________ your work by Friday. (………..)
6.___________________an ambulance. (………..)
7.____________________the cookies for fifteen minutes. (…………)
8.____________________ me in the hotel lobby. (………….)
9._____________________left at the corner. (…………..)
10.______________________safely. (…………)
3-Language Functions for Better Communication
Below is a list of several classroom language functions with examples of
common phrases, questions, and statements used to successfully
accomplish them. This list focuses on the of formal situations, but some
options are offered in italics for informal conversations.

Check listener's understanding

1-Do you understand? 2-Is everything clear?
3-Are you with me/following me? 4- (Have you) got that?

Seek verification
1-If I understand you correctly…. 2- Do you mean...?
3-In other words, you think… 4-So, what you're telling me is……..

Confirm understanding
1-I understand. 2-I'm with you.
3-Got it. 4-Roger that
5-Right.

Buy time
1-Just a moment/second, please. 2-Can I get back to you later on that?
3-Let me think about that. 4-Wait a second/minute.
5-Hold on.

Interrupt
1-I'm sorry to interrupt, but... 2- If I may, I'd like to express my
view. 3-Excuse me,…. 4-Do you mind if I say something?
Ask for repetition
1-Could you please repeat that? 2-Pardon me?
3-Say that again, please. 3-Run that by me again.
5-I didn't catch that.

Summarize key points

1-Let's review/go over 2-To sum (things) up,…
3-To recap,… 4-Let's briefly go over what we've said.
5-Let me summarize what we've covered.

Seek clarification
1-Could you please clarify that? 2-I don't understand.
3-Im a little confused about that. 4-What do you mean by...!
5-I don't follow you

Ask for opinions

1-What do you think (about)...? 2-How do you feel about...?
3-What's your opinion on...? 4-Could you give me your ideas on...?
5-What are your thoughts on this?

Give clarification
1-Let me clarify that. 2-Let me explain what I mean.
3-Let's go over that one more time. 4-Let me clear a few things up.
5-Let me put it another way.

Paraphrase/restate
1-In other words,…. 2-To put it another way…..
3-Allow me to say it another way 4-Let me restate/rephrase that.
Offer an opinion
1-I think/believe… 2-In my opinion/view,…..
3-It seems to me that.... 4-The way I see it, …..
5-If you ask me, ...

Offer a suggestion
1-You might want to think about… 2-We might want to consider.......
3-What if we...? 4-I have an idea.

Express agreement
1-I agree 2-You're right
3-That's how I feel. 4-Definitely.
5-Exactly.

Identify and assess problems

1-Let's take a closer look at this. 2-Here's how I understand the problem.
3-Here's my take on the situation. 4-Here's what we/you need to work on.
5-How should we proceed?

Express disagreement
1-I respect your opinion, but .. 2-That's not how I see it.
3-I disagree. 4-I see your point, but...
5-I don't think so. 6-Wait a minute.

Introducing a plan
1-Why don't we begin by ...? 2-The first thing we should do is..
3-Let's start with this. 4-Let's get our priorities straight.
5-First things first.
Ask for rationale/justification
1-What were your reasons for ..? 2-Why did you decide to do that?
3-Could you explain why..? 4-How did you come to that conclusion?
5-How did you figure that out?

Change the topic

1-I don't want to change the subject, but ... 2-Changing the subject,
3-On a different note, 4-On a related topic,
5-By the way, 6-Let's shift gears.

Express uncertainty or lack of understanding

1-I'm confused about 2-I'm not familiar with...
3-I'm not sure about... 4-It's not clear to me.
5-I just don't get it.

Fill silence
1-OK. 2-All right.
3-Well 4-Uh-huh.
5-Really?

Express doubt
1-I'm not convinced that. 2-I have my doubts about that.
3-Are you sure about that? 4-I have a hard time believing that…