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1 - Functions - in - English - Language

The document discusses several ways to describe language, including grammatical description using words to talk about parts of speech and functional description by explaining how language is used in communication. It provides examples of language functions like apologizing, greeting, suggesting, expressing regret, and using modal verbs. Several structures and examples are given for apologizing, making suggestions, expressing regret, and using modal verbs like can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would.

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24 views

1 - Functions - in - English - Language

The document discusses several ways to describe language, including grammatical description using words to talk about parts of speech and functional description by explaining how language is used in communication. It provides examples of language functions like apologizing, greeting, suggesting, expressing regret, and using modal verbs. Several structures and examples are given for apologizing, making suggestions, expressing regret, and using modal verbs like can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would.

Uploaded by

Sparrow Wings
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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IBRAHEEM AJEEL

UNIVERSITY OF BAGHDAD
We can describe language by using
words to talk about grammar
(grammatical description). But we can
also describe language by saying how it is
used. This is the function of the language
(functional description) . For example,
“I’m sorry” represents the function of
apologizing and, “Good Morning!”
represents the function of greeting .
To apologize is to tell someone that you
are sorry for having done something that
has caused him inconvenience or
unhappiness: Example

I must apologize to peter for my late


arrival.
I do apologize for …...
I must apologize for ……
I apologize for……….
I am so sorry for ……..
Please, forgive me for ……
Excuse me for………..
We make suggestions when deciding
what to do with our friends, or giving
them advice on what they might do in
a certain situation.
Expressing regret means having a
feeling of sadness about something
that you did or did not do. To express
regret in English, you may use many
different structures. Here are some of
them.
I wish / if only + Past perfect :
I wish I had worked harder. (Regret)
If only I hadn't eaten so much. (Regret)
Form : If + past perfect + would + have + past
participle

Function : If I had worked hard, I would have


passed the exam. (Regret)
• If I hadn't eaten so much, I wouldn't have
been sick. (Regret)
The modal verbs are can, could, may, might,
must, shall, should, will and would.
The modals are used to do things like talking
about ability, making requests, and so on.
We use can to talk about someone’s
skill or general abilities:
*She can speak several languages.
*He can swim like a fish.
*They can’t dance very well.
We use can to ask for permission to do
something:
Can I ask a question, please?
Can we go home now?
*could is more formal and polite than
can :
Could I ask a question please?
Could we go home now?
We use ( could you ) and (would you) as polite
ways of telling or asking someone to do something :
Could you take a message please ?
Would you carry this for me please ?
Could I have my bill please?
can and will are less polite :
Can you take a message please ?
Will you carry this for me please?
We use should to make suggestions and give
advice , examples :
You should send an email . Advice
We should go by train. Advice
We use could to make suggestions :
We could meet at the weekend. Suggestion
You could eat out tonight. Suggestion
We use must to say that it is
necessary to do something :
* You must stop at a red light .
* Everyone must bring something
to eat .
We use (can I ) … to make offer :
Can I help you?
Can I do that for you?
We can also use (shall I ) … make offer :
Shall I help you with that ?
Shall I call you on your mobile?
sentences in the imperative form may perform
a variety of different functions :
•Give me that book. (Order)
•Pass the jam. (Request)
•Turn right at the corner. (Instruction)
•Try the smoked salmon. (Suggestion)
•Come round on Sunday. (Invitation)

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