TEACHING FUNCTIONS

WHAT IS A FUNCTION?
Functions refer to what items of language
actually do in a real context, as opposed to
what they might mean literally. These include
suggesting, criticising, refusing, agreeing and
disagreeing, enquiring, talking about the past,
and giving advice.
Example
The phrase 'What time do you call this?' has a
clear literal meaning but its function is to ask
'Why are you late? I'm very angry!'
In the classroom
It is important for learners to understand that
one form may have many different functions,
and to see how functions work in context, as
the example above shows. Many forms have
sensitive functions and so their appropriacy,
formality and degree need to be considered.
Language Functions in
English and Vocabulary
Agreeing in English
In 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 how strongly 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."
• Note
When 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 English
When complaining in English, it helps to be
polite. The following tips will help you with
this important English speaking skill.
• In a shop
You'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 is
wrong. I gave you 20 dhs, not 10 dhs."
• 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 hotel room."
"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."
• English greetings
First impressions are important, so here's a
guide to using the right expression.
• Greetings
Two friends meeting
Friends 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 know
You can use "Hello" with people you don't
know, but a more formal greeting is "Good
morning / afternoon / evening."
The other person normally replies with the
same greeting as you have used and then
makes polite conversation, such as "How was
your trip?" or "Did you find our office easily?"
• Introducing 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 people
Introducing a friend to a work colleague
"Sarah, have you met my colleague Ali?"
"Sarah, I'd like you to meet my colleague Ali."
Sarah says:
"Pleased to meet you, Ali." Or "Nice to meet you,
Ali."
Alicould say:
"Nice to meet you too, Sarah." Or "Hello, Sarah."
Making invitations
How to make and accept invitations in English.
"What are you doing next Saturday? We're having
some people over for a meal. Would you 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 Tip
It's important to be polite when you decline
an invitation. We normally give a reason why
we can't do something and either apologise, or
use words like "actually" or "really".
• Making offers
• English 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 - will
make 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, can and will are followed by the verb without to.
• Shall is more formal than can. Would you like… is followed either by a noun, or by the
verb with to.
• Responding to offers
These English dialogues show you ways to accept or reject offers
made to you.
• "Can I help you?"
"Yes please. I'd like to know what 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 kind of 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."
• Making predictions
When we want to say what we think will happen in the future in English, we can
either
use w ill followed by the verb without to, or going to followed by the verb.
"What do you think will happen next year?"
"Next week is going to be very busy, I think."
"There won't be a rise in house prices next year."
"He isn't going to win the election."
Because we also use w ill to talk about intentions and strong decisions, we often use
“going to” to sound less emotional.
"He won't help us" can mean that he has decided not to help us. But "He isn't going
to help us" doesn't have this negative implication. It sounds more like a prediction
and a simple, non-emotional fact- perhaps he isn't able to help us.
• Predictions based on what you know now
We can make predictions based on what we can
see now. To do this, we use going to and
the verb (not w ill).
For example:
"Watch out! You're going to hit that car in front."
"It's going to be a lovely day today - not a cloud in
the sky."
• Making requests
When you ask someone to do something for you, or ask if
you can do something, it's important 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: could and can are followed by the verb

without to. Would you mind is followed 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: Could is more polite that can.

“Do you mind if…" is followed by the verb in the
present tense, but would you mind if… is followed by
the verb in the past tense.
When you're using these two sentences, don't use plea
se. It's already polite enough!
• Speaking about hopes in English
There are a number of expressions you can
use to show your hopes and preferences.
Hopes
• I'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…
• Preferences
• I'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 English
• The following English words and expressions are all
used to make suggestions and give advice 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."
• There are many words and expressions for talking about fear.

Words
• afraid: "Are you afraid of the dark?"
frightened: "I’m frightened of spiders."
scared: "He’s scared of making mistakes."
feel uneasy: "I felt a bit uneasy when I walked home in the dark."
spooked: “My cats are easily spooked before a thunderstorm.”
terrified: “She was absolutely terrified when she heard the noise.”
petrified: “The building began to shake and we were all petrified.”
 Expressions
- a terrifying ordeal
- send shivers down my spine
- give 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 me
- shake with fear
- jump out of my skin
HOW TO TEACH
FUNCTIONS
-Get students to study a series of sentences that
contain the targeted function.
- Have them underline the targeted
expressions.
- Ask them to copy the expressions in a table or
chart.
- Tell them to use expressions from the table to
make sentences,orally first then in writing.
EXAMPLE 1
STUDY THESE SENTENCES CAREFULLY.
- Many developing nations are in debt and
poverty due to drought and lack of rain.
- One cause of underdevelopment is illiteracy.
- One effect of illiteracy is large family size.
- Educated women have fewer children because
they plan their family. As a result, they have
better personal life and nutrition.
Underline the expresions of cause and effect
and copy them in the table.

Expressions of Cause Expressions of Effect

……………………………………………… ………………………………………………
………………………………………………
………………………………………………
Using expressions from the table, make
sentences using cause and effect.
- Cities have grown so large/there is an
increasing industrialisation.
- Factory jobs attracted people/Cities become
overcrowded.
- Better schools attract families to move to the
city/ Classes become overcrowded.
EXAMPLE 2
Read the dialogue and underline expressions of
suggestion.
Sarah: Why don’t we go on an excursion?
Sophia: Why not? We could go to Ifrane.
Sarah: Yes, Ifrane is beautiful. We could enjoy the snow and see
the ion statue, but it’s very cold there.
Sophia: How about going to Um Rabi’a springs?
Sarah: I think that will cost us a lot of money . Why not go to
Marrakesh?
Sophia: That’s great idea . We can amuse ourselves in Jam’a El
Fna and see the snake charmers.
Complete the following chart from the dialogue
Making a Accepting Declining/Refusing
suggestion
…………………………….. ……………………………. ……………………………
…………………………… …………………………… ……………………………
…………………………… …………………………… ……………………………
…………………………… …………………………… ……………………………
………………………….. …………………………… …………………………...
 Fill in the blanks choosing the correct answer from the list.
When you finish, practise the dialogue with your partners.
Rachid: Hi Yassine! Let’s _______ to the Minaret over there.
a- going b- go c – to go
Yassine : No, Let’s ________ to the Minaet. It’s a little far, Rachid.
a- not to go b- go c – not go
Rachid : Then why _______ go to the movies?
a- don’t we b – don’t you c – we go
Yassine: Good idea, Rachid! __________ invite Sophia to go with us?
a- why let’s to b – let’s c – why don’t you
Rachid: Hi Sophia. We’re going to the movies tomorrow.Why ______come with us?
a- don’t we b- doesn’t she c – don’t you
Sophia : The movies? No, I don’t want to go to the movies. ______ go to the circus.
There are nice acrobats there.
a- let’s go b- let’s to go c- let’s going
THANK YOU