examples of some key language functions
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Examples of Some Key Language Functions (Page 1)
A language function is the purpose of speaking that sentence or phrase. For example, “I’m sorry” represents the function of apologizing and, “Good Morning!” represents the function of greeting.
In the speaking test, the examiner will ask certain questions that are testing your knowledge of the suitable ways to speak for certain language functions. It is very useful if you can recognize these language functions.
You should also understand that some questions combine two (or even more) types of language function in one question.
Index of Language Functions
1. Talking About Personal Habits
2. Expressing Likes and Dislikes
3. Expressing Reasons for Likes and Dislikes
4. Expressing a Preference
5. Comparing
6. Talking About Recent Changes
7. Contrasting
8. Suggesting
9. Expressing Opinions
10. Giving Reasons for Opinions
11. Explaining
12. Speculating ( = Guessing When You Don't Know)
13. Speculating ( = guessing) About the Future
14. Expressing Plans, Intentions and Hopes for the Future
15. Clarifying
16. Explaining a Word When you have Forgotten (or don't know) the Word
17. Speaking in General
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1. Talking About Personal Habits
Example question: What do you usually do in the evenings?
1. I usually ...2. I often ...
3. While I'm studying I usually ...
4. Sometimes I ....
5. As a rule, I ...
6. Whenever I can I ...
Don't say, "I will .." unless your meaning includes the word 'if' (or includes the idea of 'if' without using that word.) For example, the following answer is notcorrect: "What do you do in the evenings?" – "Well, after I have had my dinner I will usually watch some TV and chat with my parents." Instead, just say, "Well, after I have had my dinner I usually watch some TV and chat with my parents."
However, the following answer is OK because it includes the idea of "if": "How do you usually get your news?" – "I usually get my news from the TV or the internet but sometimes, (if there's some special news that I'm interested in,) I'll buy a newspaper and read more about a topic (that) I'm especially interested in."
The word 'always' means 总是, not 经常.
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2. Expressing Likes and Dislikes
Example question: What kinds of music do you like?
1. My favourite ... is ...2. I like ...
3. I enjoy ...
4. I'm (quite/rather) keen on ...
5. I just love ...
6. I absolutely adore ....
7. I'm crazy about ...
8. I'm addicted to ...
9. I'm really into ...
10. I don't mind ...
11. As far as .... is concerned, I can take it or leave it.
12. I don't care too much for ... = I'm not really into ...
13. My least favourite .... is ...
14. I dislike ...
15. I can't stand ...
16. I hate ... (extreme language)
17. I find ...
When you express your feelings, including your likes and dislikes, try to use facial expressions to accompany your words.
When expressing strong feelings, place extra stress on the key word. These are shown in italics, for example, "I absolutely adore ..."
The expression, "I absolutely adore ..." is more suitable for females to say. But males say that when talking about their girlfriend or wife.
Only say, "I'm addicted to ..." if it's something that you do very frequently and almost can't control. For example, some boys are addicted to computer games. English speakers also say, "addicted" as an exaggeration, such as, "I'm addicted to the internet" or, "I'm addicted to chocolate – I eat some chocolate almost every day."
Definitely do not say, "very like". (A Band 4 level mistake.) In English we do not say, "Very + verb". Instead, we say, "Verb + very much" or, "Very much + verb".
For the verb, "like", it's good to use the word, “really” as in, "I really like spicy food" – this is very natural spoken English. Of course, you can also say, "I like spicy food very much" or "I very much like spicy food".
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3. Expressing Reasons for Likes and Dislikes
1. ... because ...2. ... since ...
3. The main reason I like...... is that it's ......
4. What I like best about ..... is .....
5. The thing I like best about ..... is ......
6. The best/worst thing about ... is ...
7. I don't like that very much because it's too ......
8. That's because I find it ......
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4. Expressing a Preference
Example question: Do you (or, would you) prefer to travel alone or with others? (e.g., a friend)
1. I prefer ... because2. My preference is ... because ...
3. I prefer A to B because ...
4. If I had the choice, I'd + V ... because ... (假设的话)
5. If I had the choice, I'd rather + V... because ... (假设的话)
6. If I have the choice, I'll + V .... (a real possibility for the future)
You can also say, "I (very) much prefer ...", "I certainly prefer ..." and "I definitely prefer ...".
Never say, "I like both of them." or some similar answer. For example, most people like both rice and noodles. If I ask you which do you prefer, to say, "I like both of them" is a poor answer. In this situation, the suitable answer is: "I have no preference, really – I like both of them equally."
'Prefer' questions are also asking you to make some comparisons between two things. You should use some of the language of comparing when you give your reason(s) for your preference.
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5. Comparing
Example question:
What are the differences between people's homes in the city and people's homes in the countryside?
1. A is/are bigger than B.2. B is/are not as big as A.
3. A _____ than B. (Example: "Old people usually have more money in the bank than young people.")
You can also use some of these:
Use “much” as in, “A is much better / worse than B”.
“A is not nearly as good as B.”
“B is nowhere near as big as A”
“A is not quite as important as B.”
“A is almost as important as B, but not quite.”
“In comparison to B, A is quite big.” Or, “A is quite big in comparison to B”.
“Compared to B, A is a lot/much bigger.”
Note that model 3, above, does not use a comparative adjective. Although comparative
adjectives are most commonly used to form comparison sentences,you can just talk about
"more X", "fewer X", or "less X" where X is a noun, usually a plural noun if the noun is
countable.
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6. Talking About Recent Changes
= Comparing the recent past and the present
Example question:
Has your hometown changed much in the past few years? (e.g. 20 years)
Yes, it has. For example, ...
1. today there are many more cars on the roads than there were thirty years ago.
( ... there are/is _____ than there were/was ....)
2. the air pollution is much worse/much better than it used to be.
( ______ is/are ____ than it used to be.)
3. compared to thirty years ago, the population of the city has increased by about two million.
(Compared to thirty years ago, _______ has + 过去分词 )
4. the population of the city has increased by about two million people in the last thirty years.
(______ has + 过去分词 in the last thirty years)
5. more people today own a car than was the case thirty years ago.
(More/fewer/less _________ today + present tense than was the case thirty years ago.)
6. more and more people are living in high-rise apartment buildings today whereas thirty years ago, we had very few high-rise apartments buildings in our city.
(Today ______ are + 现在分词 whereas thirty years ago + past tense)
7. more and more large-scale supermarkets are being built nowadays but there were very few of them in my hometown thirty years ago
(More and more ________ are being + 过去分词 nowadays but + past tense thirty years ago.)
There are more sentences that could be used to answer this question. The sentences shown above give you some basic structures but, to give a complete answer to a question in the test, you also should try to use linking or introductory phrases for these sentences. Here's a complete answer, using some linking phrases and words:
A: "Has your hometown changed much in the past few years?" (e.g. 20 years)
B: "Yes, it has. For example, today there are many more cars on the roads than there were thirty years ago. As a result of that, the air pollution is much worse better than it used to be. As well as that, the population of the city has increased by about two million people in the last thirty years.Another change is that more and more people are living in high-rise apartment buildings today whereas thirty years ago, we had very few high-rise apartments buildings in our city."
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7. Contrasting
The question is usually 'a compare question'. When you answer one of these questions, you can use a contrasting statement. However, since the grammar of the comparing answers (see above) is more difficult, you will impress the examiner more by mostly using that, rather than by using contrasting statements.
Example: "A is big but B is small."
(____ is _____ but _____ is ____)
A contrasting statement has two parts and the second part basically repeats the first part in grammatical form but the idea expressed in the second part is the opposite idea to the first part. In the example above, the two ideas expressed are the adjectives 'big' and 'small' but you can use adverbs or phrases as well. (The yellow words are given extra stress because they are words in contrast.) For example, "He works quite slowly whereas I work quite fast" or, "I was on my way to work but he was on his way home."
Of course, it's much better to add words such as 'quite'. For example, "A is quite big while B is rather small."
Instead of 'but' you can use, 'while' or 'whereas'. It's possible but not necessary to include the expression, "on the other hand". For example, "A is quite bigbut, on the other hand, B is rather small."
The verb form doesn't have to be present tense – any suitable verb form is possible.
When you speak a sentence with a contrasting statement, it is important to stress the words that are in contrast. (The examiners are looking for these stressed words. Examiners use contrast statements as part of their assessment of your pronunciation score, not so much your grammar score.) For example: "A is quite big while B is rather small." The words 'big' and 'small' have the greatest sentence stress but 'A' and 'B' are also stressed.
Examples of Some Key Language Functions (Page 2)
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8. Suggesting
Example questions:
What would you suggest a visitor to your country see and do?
What do you think the government could/should do?
1. I'd .... (suggest, recommend, say, tell him/her/them) ....2. Maybe/perhaps/possibly ... + could / should ...
3. It might/may help if ....+ past tense form of verb
4. It would probably + (be a good idea, be useful, help) if + past tense form of verb
5. I .... (suggest, recommend, say) ....
Notice that the word 'would' is usually used in this type of question and in your answer. So, don't answer with the words, "I will ...". Instead, say, "I'd ..."
Notice the grammar in this answer: "I'd recommend they visit the Great Wall and see the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian." The same verb form is used after the word, "suggest".
Alternatively, you can use the verbal noun (动名词) after the words, "suggest" or "recommend" but not after "say". For example, the answer above could also be expressed as: "I'd recommend visiting the Great Wall and seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian." But you cannot say, "I'd recommend they visiting ...". You only use the verbal noun when you don't actually say the pronoun, "he", "she" or "they".
Remember, "they" can mean "he or she" for this usage; it does not have to be talking about a group." For example: "What would you suggest someone do if they lost their bicycle?" --> "I'd suggest they (= he or she) report the matter to the police" = "I suggest reporting the matter to the police".
Here's an example of #4, above. What do you think the government could do about the pollution problem? "It would definitely help if the government encouraged alternate forms of electricity generation, such as wind farms and solar-power." Notice that the past tense, "encouraged" is used, although it is not the usual past tense meaning. Also notice that, instead of "definitely" you can use, "possibly", "probably" and "certainly".
At times, the example shown at 5. (I .... (suggest, say, recommend) ....) is suitable to use. These times are when the examiner does not use the word, "would" in the question.
Some examiners avoid using the word, "would" in the question because they don't want to tell you that you should use "would" in the answer - they want to see if you know about using
"would" in the answer. But when the examiner doesn't use "would" in the question, it is sometimes possible to answer correctly without using "would".
For example: "Do you have any suggestions for foreigners who are thinking of visiting China?"
--> "I recommend (or, I suggest) they visit the Great Wall and see the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian." Note: this is most suitable when the examiner does not use "would" in the question. That answer could also be made using the verbal noun: "I recommend (or, I suggest) visiting the Great Wall and seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian."
You can also answer using "would", even when the examiner does not use "would" in the question. "Do you have any suggestions for foreigners who are thinking of visiting China?" --> "I'd recommend (or, I'd suggest) they visit the Great Wall and see the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian. That answer could also be made using the verbal noun: "I'd recommend (or, I'd suggest) visiting the Great Wall and seeing the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xian."
It is probably best to use "would" in your answers, even when you don't need to, because this will "impress" the examiner a bit more, since the grammar is a bit more difficult when "would" is used.
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9. Expressing Opinions
Example question:
Do you think that children should always be offered an incentive (a reward of some kind) when parents ask their children to do something?
1. I think ...2. I believe ...
3. I feel ...
4. Personally, I (think, believe, feel) ...
5. I tend to + (think, feel, believe) that ...
6. In my opinion, ...
7. In my view, ...
8. I've always + (thought/believed/felt) that ...
9. I maintain that ...
10. I've always maintained that ...
11. It seems to me that ...
12. I'm convinced that ...
13. As far as I'm concerned, ...
14. My view is that ...
15. From my point of view, ...
16. To my mind, ...
17. The way I see it, ...
18. As I see it, ...
Don't say, "personally in my opinion".
Don't say, "In my eyes". Use, "In my view", instead.
Only use, "maintain" if the topic is something that you have discussed with others many times before. "Maintain" means you always express this opinion. It is not suitable to use, "maintain" if the question is something that you have probably never thought about before. And only use, "maintain" a maximum of once in the speaking test.
Similarly, you should only say, "I firmly believe" when you are talking about a topic that suits a strong opinion and a topic that you have deeply thought about before.
Your answers will be better if you include adverbs such as 'strongly', firmly', 'honestly', 'really' and 'personally'.
Only use, 'frankly' when saying something that expresses a rather strong or firm opinion. As well as that, this opinion should be rather unexpected (for the person you are talking to) or be something that you don't usually tell other people, like a 'small secret'. 'Frankly' is used when you are expressing something in an unusually direct and honest way. For example, "Who's your favourite film star?" – "Frankly, I don't have a favourite film star because I don't often watch films."
Similarly, only start a sentence with the words, "To be honest, ..." when you are expressing an opinion in an unusually direct and honest way, and this opinion is something the listener probably does not expect.
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10. Giving Reasons for Opinions
1. ... because ...2. ... since ...
3. The main reason I say that is because ...
4. One of the reasons I say that is because ... (One reason I say that is because ... )
Don't use, 'as' or, 'for' to mean 因为 when speaking; they are too formal-sounding and unnatural when speaking.
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11. Explaining
Example question: Why are many older people reluctant to learn computer skills?
1. The reason why ... is because / is that ...2. The main reason why ... is because / is that ...
3. One reason why ... is because / is that ...
4. One possible explanation (for that) is ...
5. To understand why ....., you first need to ..... (understand, know, be aware that)
6. Well, it's like this: ....
7. You could look at it this way: ...
Basically, "explain" means to give an answer to a "Why?" or "How?" question that is rather complex. You answer an "explain" question by speaking in some detail.
In the first three examples above, you can qualify the verb, "is" by saying, "certainly is", "definitely is" or "surely is".
If you don't know and are guessing the explanation for something, then your answer belongs to the Speculating language function, below. In this case, you could qualify the, "is" from examples 1 to 3 by saying, "possibly is", "probably is", "might be", "may be", or "could be".
The language function of explaining is most common in Part 2 – every Part 2 topic asks you to explain something.
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12. Speculating ( = Guessing When You Don't Know)
(When talking about the present or the past)
Example question: Do old people in China have opportunities to attend any forms of classes?
1. Well, I'm not sure but ...2. Well, I've never thought about that before but ...
3. As far as I know, ...
4. I imagine ...
5. I guess ...
6. I suppose ...
7. I'd say ...
Since you're not sure, you can also use words such as, "maybe", "perhaps", "possibly", "probably", "it's quite likely that ...", "it's quite possible that ...", "it's quite probable that ...", "may +V", "might +V", "could + V". (V = 动词原形)
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13. Speculating ( = guessing) About the Future
(Most commonly, how the future will change, compared to now.)
Example question: How do you think the tourist industry (in China) will develop in the future?
1. I predict ... + a noun2. I (can) foresee ... + [a noun + 现在分词] or + a noun
3. I imagine / suppose / guess ...
4. ... will + adverb (or, adverb + will)
5. ... be (present tense) likely to ...
6. ... be (present tense) bound to ...
7. ... be (present tense) + going to + V (原形动词) = "will" + V (原形动词)
8. There’ll probably / possibly be ...
9. We might see / have ...
10. ... will be + 现在分词 ...
11. ... might be + 现在分词 ...
12. I'd be surprised if + past tense/past continuous tense
13. I'll be very surprised if + present tense/past continuous tense
14. I expect ...
‘Adverb’ = ‘adverb of certainty’ = definitely / certainly / probably / possibly.
Be careful of just saying, “will” with no adverb of certainty. 'Will', with no adverb is used in English to talk about something that you are very certain about in the future. For example, ‘will’ is used in English to promise something to someone – “I’ll give you the money I owe you tomorrow.” Of course, some things are certain, for example, “China’s population will be bigger than it is now, thirty years from now.” You can emphasize your feeling of certainty about the future by saying, "certainly will", "will certainly", "definitely will" or "will definitely".
However, you can use a simple "will" without an adverb to give your opinion that something ‘will definitely’ or ‘will certainly’ happen by including words such as, "I think", "I'm sure", "In my opinion", "I believe" etc. For example, "I believe that twenty years from now, China will have no people living in extreme poverty."
The words, "...will surely" means, "I will be very surprised if this doesn't happen" = "I'd be very surprised if this didn't happen." You could use "will surely" in the example above: “China’s population will surely be bigger than it is now, thirty years from now.”
"Going to" When you are talking about things happening in the future, besides your own plans, "going to" means, "it will (almost certainly) happen". For the question about the tourist industry, you could say something like, "I think the tourist industry is (certainly) going to expand greatly over the next couple of decades." So, even though "going to" already includes the idea of "certainly will happen" or "almost certainly will happen", you can, if you want to, add the adverb, "certainly" to emphasize this meaning.
[When you are talking about your plans for the future, "going to" = "I intend to" + "I think it almost certainly will happen". See below.]
Instead of ‘imagine', 'suppose' or 'guess' you could simply say, 'think' but it's not so impressive to the examiner just to say that.
If you say that something is "bound" to happen, you should not use an adverb of certainty because, "be bound to happen" already has a very exact meaning of, "there is no doubt that it will happen" or, "it is inevitable". If you say, "The tourist industry is certainly bound to grow over the next few years", the use of the word "certainly" sounds repetitive and redundant, like saying, "He's a very intelligent genius" or "He's a tall giant". And, of course, you cannot use the adverbs "possibly" or "probably" with "bound to" because those words are in conflict with the meaning of, "there is no doubt that it will happen".
Include some comparative (比较) language when talking about the future. For example, "In twenty or thirty years, people will almost certainly be living longer than they do now, due to advances in medical science."
"I foresee" is usually followed by + [a noun + 现在分词] or a noun. For example, "I foresee people working fewer hours per week in the future." And, using a noun, "I foresee a decrease in the number of hours people work per week." (Use, "people work", not "people will be working".)
"I predict" is similar to "I foresee" in meaning but we usually use "will" after "predict". For example, "I predict people will be working (or, will work) fewer hours per week in the future." The noun usage after "I predict" is the same as for, "I foresee": "I predict a decrease in the number of hours people work per week." (For, "people work", "people will be working" is also possible.)
#10 & #11 is the future continuous tense. Show the examiner you can say the following kind of sentence: "Thirty years from now, people will almost certainly be driving electric cars and possibly we'll also have flying cars by then." Another example: "In twenty years, some people might be traveling to the moon for holidays."
An example of #12 is: "I'd be very surprised if people were still driving petrol-powered cars thirty years from now." Type #13 is basically expressing the same idea as #12 and you could use them interchangeably. For example, "I'll be very surprised if people are still driving petrol-powered cars thirty years from now." Using #12 or #13 will impress the examiner and help you get more points for grammar.
To help you think of ideas about the future of the topic you are discussing with the examiner, here are five suggestions:
1. Think about how the internet (or simply, computers) will affect the future of that topic. For example, people will probably be buying many things on the internet in the future and people will be studying more on the internet.
2. Think of science fiction (科学幻想). For example: flying cars or traveling to the moon for a vacation. Answers based on ideas from science fiction are quite suitable when talking about the future, as long as you qualify your answer with adverbs such as "possibly", "maybe", etc. or use the verb "might" instead of "will".
3. Think of recent advances in science and technology and extend these to the future. For example, cloning, genetic engineering, organ transplanting, wind and solar power, hydrogen-powered cars, electric cars, nanotechnology, robots, brain-wave controlled devices etc.
4. Think of how globalization might affect the future of that topic. For example, as the world becomes more of a "global village", people will be interacting with foreigners a lot
more, leading to probable changes in international law, politics, language, social customs, business etc.
See HERE for more detailed examples of the grammar when talking about the future.
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14. Expressing Plans, Intentions and Hopes for the Future
Example question: What are your future work plans? (after you graduate)
1. I plan to ...2. My plan is to ...
3. I plan on + Ving (动名词)
4. I intend to ...
5. I hope to ...
6. I'm going to ...
7. My ambition is to ...
8. My immediate goal is to ...
9. My ultimate (= final) goal is to ...
10. Ultimately, ...
11. Hopefully, ...
12. Ideally, ...
13. I expect to ...
14. I’d like to ... = I want to ..
15. As an alternative, I might ...
16. If all goes well, I'll / I should ...
17. If everything goes according to plan, I'll / I should ...
18. My dream is to ...
19. It's always been my hope/plan/ambition/dream to ...
20. My heart is set on + Ving (动名词)
Don't say, "I wish to", for example, "I wish to study in the U.K." It's too formal. Instead, use "I hope to study in the U.K." or the simpler sentences, "I’d like to study in the UK." and, "I want to study in the UK." (See note below about "want to".)
See the note about using, "will" in the notes for "Speculating about the Future".
When you are talking about your plans for the future, "going to" combines two ideas: "I intend to" + "it almost certainly will happen". So don't use "going to" if you are not very sure that this will happen. It is similar to using "will" but "will" only has the meaning of, "it almost certainly will happen"; it is not connected to your intentions.
For example, the following sentence is not very suitable: "I'm going to get a degree in Accountancy in Australia". Many things could happen to cause this not to happen and, after all, you first have to get your 6.5 in the IELTS test! The following examples are suitable: "I'm going to go shopping tonight"; and, "I'm going to sit for the IELTS test again in two months".
On the other hand, if you have already been admitted to a university in Australia and you know your parents have the money, and especially if you already have your visa and plane ticket, then the following statement is suitable: "I'm going to start my university studies in Australia in February."
"I want to" is ok but it just refers to your desire. A desire is not always the same as a plan or intention. Don't overuse, "I want to" when talking about your plans for the future because it's too simple.
Don't use the word "can" or the word "must" when talking about the future. Instead, use "will be able to" and "will have to". " Can " and " must " are only used when referring to now.
For example: "After I go to Canada I can practice more English" is incorrect. The correct sentence is, "After I go to Canada, I'll be able topractice more English".
Similarly, "When I arrive in Australia, the first thing I must do is find a place to live" is incorrect. The correct sentence is, "When I arrive in Australia, the first thing I'll have to do is find a place to live"
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15. Clarifying
1. What I mean is ..2. My meaning is ....
3. In other words,
4. That is to say, ...
5. Let me put that another way.
6. To put that another way, ...
7. What I'm trying to say is ..
8. My point is that ...
9. More specifically, ...
10. For example, ...
11. For instance, ...
Using "That is to say, ..." is a little formal-sounding. It is best to only use that when speaking quite seriously about something in Part 3 (or when answering a Part 1 question that is a "Part 3-style" question).
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16. Explaining a Word When you have Forgotten (or don't know) the Word
"I can't remember the word but .....
1. it's a thing that ...2. it's a type of ...
3. it's something you ...
4. he's a person who ...
5. it's something like ...
6. it's similar to ...
7. it's kind of like a ..."
These sentences use the present tense because you are speaking in general. For example, "It's a thing, a tool that you use to put air into your bicycle tyre - you use it like this" (Show the action). (a bicycle pump)
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17. Speaking in General
1. On the whole, ..2. As a rule, ...
3. In general,
4. Generally, ...
5. Generally speaking, ..
6. For the most part, ...
7. Typically,
8. Usually,
Use the Present Tense when speaking in general.
Use plural nouns. Although singular nouns are possible in some cases, you will make fewer mistakes by using plural nouns.
Examples:
"Boys like to play computer games but girls prefer to go shopping."
"I like dog" is wrong and means, "我喜欢吃狗肉". Instead, use "I like dogs."
"I like dogs" means, "I like all dogs; this dog, that dog, whenever I see a dog, I like it." But it is unsuitable to say, "I like pandas" because you don't see different pandas in your everyday life. In this case, it is more suitable to say, "I like the panda" (= "I like the panda species").
"Dogs are friendlier than cats but cats are cleaner than dogs."
Use the present tense. For example: "I usually get my news from the internet because ...." Avoid using “will” when speaking in general, such as, "I will usually get my news from the internet because ...."
有人说 = "(Many) People say ..." (Not, "Someone said") Avoid saying, "It is said ..." because that sounds too formal in natural speech.
Language functions refer to the purposes in which we use language to communicate. We use language for a variety of formal and informal purposes, and specific grammatical structures and vocabulary are often used with each language function. Some examples of language functions include:
Compare and contrast Persuasion
Asking questions
Expressing likes and dislikes
Cause and effect
Summarizing
Sequencing
Predicting
Agreeing/disagreeing
Greeting people/introductions
When teaching about language functions, it is important that teachers explicitly teach the vocabulary and phrases associated with each language function. For example, when teaching the language function of compare/contrast teachers may teach the following vocabulary: both, similar, also, different, in contrast, similarly, etc. During the lesson planning and preparation stage, teachers should brainstorm the vocabulary words associated with the language function that will be taught. It is important that as students become familiar with the vocabulary associated with each language function that more advanced functional vocabulary is introduced to students. An excellent resource for teachers to identify advanced vocabulary isthesaurus.com or dictionary.com. In addition to functional vocabulary, students must also be introduced to grammatical structures associated with each language function. For example, when teaching the language function of compare/contrast, teachers might teach comparative adjectives (i.e., smaller than, more expensive than, etc) or superlative adjectives (i.e., smallest, most expensive). A recommended book that will assist teachers with grammatical structures in English is the "ESL/ELL Teacher's Book of Lists", which can be purchased from the ELD Strategies store by clicking here. English learners must be provided with ample opportunities to practice the vocabulary and grammatical structures associated with language functions in both oral and written contexts. When preparing for a lesson, teachers must identify how the vocabulary or grammatical structure will be explicitly introduced to students, as well as how students will practice in a structured way under the guidance of a teacher. Functional vocabulary and grammatical structures can be differentiated for students at varying proficiency levels, with students at the lower levels of English proficiency practicing easier vocabulary and grammatical structures than students at higher levels of English proficiency. For additional resources on teaching language functions to English learners, please take a moment to view the SIOP resources available to teachers by clicking here. Language Functions inEnglish and Vocabulary
Agreeing in EnglishIn English conversations, people often say that they agree or disagree with each other.There are many ways of agreeing or disagreeing and the one you use depends on howstrongly you agree or disagree. Here's a list of some common expressions.Agreeing in English"I think you're right.""I agree with you."Strong agreement"I couldn't agree with you more.""You're absolutely right.""I agree entirely.""I totally agree."Partly agreeing"I agree with you up to a point, but…""That's quite true, but…""I agree with you in principle, but…"Disagreeing"I'm not sure I agree with you.""(I'm afraid) I don't agree.""(I'm afraid) I disagree.""(I'm afraid) I can't agree with you.""(I'm afraid) I don't share your opinion."NoteWhen you disagree with someone in English, you can often sound more polite by using a phrase such as "I'm afraid…"Disagreeing strongly"I don't agree at all.""I totally disagree.""I couldn't agree with you less."Complaining in EnglishWhen complaining in English, it helps to be polite. This page will help you with thisimportant English speaking skill.In a shopYou're in a shop and the assistant gives you the wrong change."Excuse me, I think you've given me the wrong change", or "Sorry, I think this change iswrong. I gave you $20, not $10."In a hotel"Excuse me, but there's a problem with the heating in my room.""Sorry to bother you, but I think there's something wrong with the air-conditioning.""I'm afraid I have to make a complaint. Some money has gone missing from my hotelroom.""I'm afraid there's a slight problem with my room - the bed hasn't been made."When people apologise, they normally say "sorry" and offer to put the situation right."Excuse me, but there's a problem with the heating.""I'm sorry - I'll get someone to check it for you."or "Sorry to hear that - I'll send someone up."Speaking tipAlthough you may find it strange to use the wordsorrywhen you complain, Englishspeakers consider it polite. It will help you get what you want!English greetingsFirst impressions are important, so here's a guide to using the right expression.GreetingsTwo friends meetingFriends often say "Hi" to each other. Then they often ask a general question, such as"How are you?" or "How are things?" or "How's life?"The reply to this question is normally positive."Fine thanks, and you?""Fine thanks, what about yourself?""Not bad." Or "Can't complain."
Greeting people you don't knowYou can use "Hello" with people you don't know, but a more formal greeting is "Goodmorning / afternoon / evening."The other person normally replies with the same greeting as you have used and thenmakes polite conversation, such as "How was your trip?" or "Did you find our officeeasily?ntroducing yourself At an informal party"Hello, I'm Maria." Or "Hello, my name's Maria."The reply could be:"Hi, I'm Sarah." Or "Hello Maria, I'm Sarah." Or "Nice to meet you, I'm Sarah."At work-related events"I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Maria, from english@home."Or, "Let me introduce myself. I'm Maria from english@home."The reply could be:"Nice to meet you. I'm Peter Mitchell, from Mitchell Creations.""Pleased to meet you. I'm Peter Mitchell, from Mitchell Creations.""How do you do? I'm Peter Mitchell from Mitchell Creations."Introducing other peopleIntroducing a friend to a work colleague"Sarah, have you met my colleague John?""Sarah, I'd like you to meet my colleague John."Sarah says:"Pleased to meet you, John." Or "Nice to meet you, John."John could say:"Nice to meet you too, Sarah." Or "Hello, Sarah."Introducing clients"Mr Mitchell, I'd like to introduce you to my manager, Henry Lewis."Mr Mitchell could then say:"How do you do?" and Henry Lewis also says "How do you do?"Or Mr Mitchell could say:"Pleased to meet you." Or "Good to meet you."Speaking Tip"How do you do?" is quite formal for British English speakers and the reply to thisquestion is to repeat the phrase, "How do you do?" (as strange as that may sound!)At a more informal partyWhen you introduce two of your friends to each other, you can simply say, "John, this isSarah."Cultural considerationsAt work, one person may have higher status - your boss, or a client, for example. It's polite to address them as Mr / Ms until the situation becomes more informal.If someone says, "Please call me (Henry)", you know you can use first names. If someoneuses your first name, you can use their first name too.People in European and English-speaking cultures often shake hands when they meetsomeone for the first time.* Don't forget to smile!:-) Introducing people•What's your name?•Who are you?•
My name is ...•I am ...•My friends call me ...•You can call me ...•Haven't we met (before)?•Yes, I think we have.• No, I don't think we have.•I think we've already met.•I don't think we've met (before).•This is .Meet ...•Have you met ...?•Yes, I have.• No, I haven't.•Yes, I think I have.• No, I don't think I have.•Hello, ... (name)• Nice to meet you. (informal)•Pleased to meet you.•How do you do? (formal)• Nice to see you.• Nice to see you again.Making appointmentsUseful phrases for making and changing appointments.Asking to meet
"Are you available on the 17th?""Can we meet on the 16th?""How does the 3rd sound to you?""Are you free next week?""Would Friday suit you?""Is next Tuesday convenient for you?""What about sometime next week?"Agreeing on a date"Yes, Thursday is fine.""Thursday suits me.""Thursday would be perfect."Suggesting a different date"I'm afraid I can't on the 3rd. What about the 6th?""I'm sorry, I won't be able to make it on Monday. Could we meet on Tuesday instead?"Ah, Wednesday is going to be a little difficult. I'd much prefer Friday, if that's alrightwith you.""I really don't think I can on the 17th. Can we meet up on the 19th?"Setting a time"What sort of time would suit you?""Is 3pm a good time for you?""If possible, I'd like to meet in the morning.""How does 2pm sound to you?"Changing the arrangement"You know we were going to meet next Friday? Well, I'm very sorry, but somethingurgent has come up.""I'm afraid that I'm not going to be able to meet you after all. Can we fix another time?""Something has just cropped up and I won't be able to meet you this afternoon. Can wemake another time?" Making generalisationsEnglish speakers often prefer to make generalisations, rather than saying something is afact. When you make generalisations, you will sound less direct and sure of yourself andtherefore more open to other people's suggestions and ideas. People will think you'refriendly!To show that something is generally truetend to"I tend to agree with you."(I agree with most of what you say.)"I tend to go to bed early in winter."(I normally go to bed early in winter.)have a tendency to"The English have a tendency to drink tea, not coffee." Note:have a tendency tois used more in written than in spoken English.To show how common something isGenerally speaking"Generally speaking, more men than women use the internet."In most cases"In most cases, wars are caused by land disputes."In some cases"In some cases, English beaches are unsafe for swimming."In a large number of cases"In a large number of cases, obesity is caused by over-eating."Mostly,often,sometimes(These words go before the main verb, or after the verb
to be)"We are mostly concerned with costs.""They mostly go to the cinema at weekends.""Eating chocolate sometimes causes migraines.""He is sometimes difficult to work with.""English people often complain about the weather."Speaking TipAlthough you may find it strange to avoid saying exactly what you mean, being able tomake generalisations is a speaking skill that will make you sound much more like anative English speaker. Making invitationsHow to make and accept invitations in English."What are you doing next Saturday? We're having some people over for a meal. Wouldyou like to come?""Are you free next Thursday?""Are you doing anything next weekend?""Would you be interested in coming to the cinema with me tonight?""How do you fancy going out for a meal at the weekend?"Accepting"Would you like to…""I'd love to, thanks.""That's very kind of you, thanks.""That sounds lovely, thanks."Do you fancy coming to the cinema tonight?"What a great idea, thanks."Declining"Would you like to come over for dinner on Saturday?""That's very kind of you, but actually I'm doing something else on Saturday.""Well, I'd love to, but I'm already going out to the cinema.""I'm really sorry, but I've got something else on.""I really don't think I can - I'm supposed to be doing something else."Speaking TipIt's important to be polite when you decline an invitation. We normally give a reason whywe can't do something and either apologise, or use words like "actually" or "really".Making offersEnglish speakers make offers all the time in conversation.They say things like:Can I… ?Shall I… ?Would you like me to… ?Using these common English phrases - and being able to accept and reject offers - willmake you sound polite and helpful."Can I help you?""Shall I open the window for you?""Would you like another coffee?""Would you like me to answer the phone?""I'll do the photocopying, if you like."Shall, canandwillare followed by the verb withoutto.Shallis more formal than
can.Would you like…is followed either by a noun, or by theverb withto.Responding to offersThese English dialogues show you ways to accept or reject offers made to you."Can I help you?""Yes please. I'd like to knowwhat time the train leaves.""Can I help you?""No thanks, I'm just looking." (In a shop.)"Shall I open the window for you?""Yes please.That would be very kindof you.""Would you like another coffee?""No thanks." Or, "No thank you.""Would you like another coffee?""Yes please, that would be lovely." Or, "Yes please, I'd love one."Would you like me to answer the phone?""If you wouldn't mind." Or, "If you could."(Don't answer "Yes, I would", as this sounds like youexpectsomeone to do it for you.)"I'll do the photocopying, if you like.""It's OK, I can do it." Or, "Don't worry, I'll do it."Or, "Thank you, that would be great."English speaking tipWith a little practice, you'll find it easy to use these English expressions. They'll help yousound both natural and confident. Making predictionsWhen we want to say what we think will happen in the future in English, we can either usewillfollowed by the verb withoutto, or
going tofollowed by the verb."What do you think will happennext year?""Next week is going to bevery busy, I think.""Therewon't bea rise in house prices next year.""Heisn't going to winthe election."Because we also usewillto talk about intentions and strong decisions, we often usegoingtoto sound less emotional."Hewon'thelp us" can mean that he has decided not to help us. But "Heisn't going tohelpus" doesn't have this negative implication. It sounds more like a prediction and asimple, non-emotional fact- perhaps he isn'tableto help us.Predictions based on what you know nowWe can make predictions based on what we can see now. To do this, we usegoing toandthe verb (notwill).For example:"Watch out!You're going to hitthat car in front.""It's going to bea lovely day today - not a cloud in the sky.Making requestsWhen you ask someone to do something for you, or ask if you can do something, it'simportant to sound polite. Here are some of the common ways that you can do this.Asking someone to do something for you"Could you open the door for me, please?""Would you mind opening the door for me, please?""Can you open the door for me, please?'Speaking tip: couldandcanare followed by the verb withoutto.Would you mind
isfollowed by the verb and-ing.Asking if you can do something"Can I use your computer, please?""Could I borrow some money from you, please?""Do you mind if I turn up the heating?""Would you mind if I turned up the heating?"Speaking tip:Couldis more polite thatcan.Do you mind if…"is followed by the verb in thepresent tense, butwould you mindif…is followed by the verb in thepast tense.When you're using these two sentences, don't useplease. It's already polite enough! Speaking about hopes in EnglishThere are a number of expressions you can use to show your hopes and preferences.HopesI'm hoping for (noun) ("I'm hoping for a new cell phone.")I'm hoping to get… ("I'm hoping to get a new phone.")
I would like…I really want… (Using "want" can be impolite unless you are talking to a close friend or family member.)Something I've always wanted is…I'd be delighted / over the moon if… ("I'd be delighted if you gave me a new watch.")What I'd like more than anything else is…On my Christmas wish list is…PreferencesI'd rather have (noun) ("I'd rather have tickets to the opera.")I'd rather you (simple past) ("I'd rather you saved your money.")I'd prefer (noun) ("I'd prefer some money for the new house.")I'd prefer it if you (simple past) ("I'd prefer it if you gave some money to charity.")….. would be more suitable / would be better If I had a choice, I would go for…If it's all the same to you, …. ("If it's all the same to you, I'd like some book tokens.")Suggestions in EnglishThe following English words and expressions are all used to make suggestions and giveadvice to people.should"You should try to practise English.""You shouldn't translate too much."Why don't you"Why don't you join an English club?"ought to"You ought to read more.
If I were you, I'd…"If I were you, I'd watch more television."*All these expressions are followed by averb, withoutto. For example: "Heshouldvisitthe Eiffel Tower." (Not "heshould tovisit the Eiffel Tower.")suggestandrecommendEither use averb + ing"I suggest visiting the Eiffel Tower." (We should all go.)OR usethat + a verbwithout to"I suggest that you visit the Eiffel Tower." (I'm not going.)OR use anoun"I recommend the lasagne." (It's a very good dish to choose in this restaurant.)advise"I advise you to buy a good dictionary."advice
Advice is an uncountable noun. This means that we can't sayan advice. Instead, we saysome adviceor a piece of advice."Let me give you some advice.""She gave me a very useful piece of advice: to buy a good dictionary."Speaking tipMany people don't like getting advice if they haven't asked for it! To avoid giving thewrong impression, you can try some of these expressions:"You could always…""Have you considered…""Perhaps we could…""Do you think it's a good idea to…"Talking about fear
There are many words and expressions for talking about fear.Wordsafraid: "Are youafraid of the dark?"frightened: "I’mfrightened of spiders."scared: "He’sscared of making mistakes."feel uneasy: "Ifelt a bit uneasywhen I walked home in the dark."spooked: “My cats are easilyspookedbefore a thunderstorm.”terrified: “She was absolutelyterrifiedwhen she heard the noise.” petrified: “The building began to shake and we were allpetrified.”Expressionsa terrifying ordealsend shivers down my spinegive me goosebumps (goosebumps are when you skin has little bumps on it)make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up (dogs also do this when they are scared)scare the hell out of me be scared shitless / shit scared (British slang - vulgar) be bricking it (British slang - vulgar)frighten the life out of meshake with fear jump out of my skinExamplesOne of the best horror films I have seen is “The Blair Witch Project”. It tells the story of a terrifying ordeal
in the woods of northern USA. Some of the scenes in the filmsentshivers down my spine, especially the one when the students run out of the tent in themiddle of the night. When they go back, one of the guy’s rucksack has been emptied.When that same guy goes missing the next day, itgives you goosebumps.There are some fabulous sound effects, especially the ones of the wind blowing andhowling. When you hear the crying voices at the end of the film, it willmake the hairson the back of your neck stand up.Perhaps the scariest part of the film is at the end, when you see one of the survivingstudents literallyshake with fearin the corner of the basement. It certainlyfrightenedthe life out of the girl when she saw him, and I jumped out of my skinat the end whenthe camera stopped filming. The filmscared the hell out of mefor weeks afterwards,and I’m ashamed to say that I wouldn’t go into an empty room in the house unless therewas someone there with me.Talking about likes and dislikes in English
There's a whole range of English expressions you can use to talk about how much youlike or dislike something.If you love something"Iloveeating ice-cream.""Iadoresun-bathing."If you like something a lot"She'sfondof chocolate.""Ilikeswimming very much."If you like something"Hequite likesgoing to the cinema.""Ilikecooking."If you neither like nor dislike something"Idon't minddoing the housework."If you don't like something
"Shedoesn't likecooking very much.""He'snot very fondof doing the gardening.""Idislikewasting time."If you really dislike something"Idon't likesport at all.""Hecan't standhis boss.""Shecan't bearcooking in a dirty kitchen.""Ihatecrowded supermarkets.""Hedetestsbeing late."
"Sheloathescelery."Things to remember…Dislikeis quite formal.Fond of is normally used to talk about food or people.The 'oa' inloatherhymes with the 'oa' inboat.Grammar NoteTo talk about your general likes or dislikes, follow this pattern:likesomething or likedoingsomething.Common mistakeBe careful where you putvery muchor a lot. These words should goafterthe thing thatyou like.For example, "I like reading very much." NOT "I like very much reading."
Talking about probability in EnglishThere are many ways of saying that something will probably or possibly happen.Probablebound to= certain: "They are bound to succeed!"sure to= certain: "He is sure to win the championship."likely to= probable: "We are likely to win the contract."definite= sure: "He's a definite frontrunner for the job!"probable: "It's probable that we will be on holiday around then."likely: "An election is likely next year."will definitely happen: "There will definitely be a storm later."will probably happen: "They will probably take on more staff.
Possiblemay: "We may be able to help you."might: "There might be a holiday next month - I'm not sure."could: "There could be a bug in the system."… is possible: "Do you think he will resign?" "Yes, that's possible."… is unlikely: "It's unlikely that she will move."will possibly: "She'll possibly tell us tomorrow."probably won't: "They probably won't hear until next week."definitely won't: "I definitely won't go to the party."… is highly unlikely: "It's highly unlikely that the company will expand."Note:Be careful of the word order."Definitely" and "probably" come after "will" (in positive sentences) and before "won't"in negative sentences.VariationsYou can add words to alter the strength of probability:highlylikely / unlikely (= very likely / unlikely)quite
likely / probable / possible (= more likely, probable or possible)couldpossibly / probablymost definitely won't (= even more unlikely)Talking about the weatherIt's true! British people often start a conversation with strangers and friends by talkingabout the weather. As weather is a neutral topic of conversation, it's usually safe to use itto strike up a conversation - at the bus stop, in a shop, or with a neighbour over thegarden fence.
Some examples of conversation starters"Lovely day, isn't it!""Bit nippy today.""What strange weather we're having!""It doesn't look like it's going to stop raining today."Attitude to weather Although British people like to complain about bad weather, they generally put a braveface on it.If someone complains about too much rain, you might hear:"Never mind - it's good for the garden."If someone complains that it's too hot, you could hear:"At least my tomatoes will be happy."If the conversation has been about general bad weather, perhaps someone will say:"Well, I've heard it's worse in the west. They've had terrible flooding."Predicting the weather We can make predictions about the weather, using a range of forms - not just the "will" or "going to" form:"I think it'll clear up later.""It's going torainby the looks of it.""We're in forfrost tonight.""They're expectingsnow in the north.""I hear that showers arecoming our way."Human attributesWe also attribute human features to the weather, almost as if the weather can decide whatto do