Word Function, Function of Words in Context

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.