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Assistant Lecturer: Ahmed Najm Abed University of Kufa, Faculty of Education - Department of English

This document discusses language functions and how they are expressed in English. It provides examples of common language functions like apologizing, expressing regret, making suggestions, requests, and offers. Several modal verbs like can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would are also explained in terms of how they are used to talk about ability, permission, advice and necessity. Overall, the document serves as a reference for different ways to express common language functions in English.

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Mohammed Alkhafaji
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39 views17 pages

Assistant Lecturer: Ahmed Najm Abed University of Kufa, Faculty of Education - Department of English

This document discusses language functions and how they are expressed in English. It provides examples of common language functions like apologizing, expressing regret, making suggestions, requests, and offers. Several modal verbs like can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would are also explained in terms of how they are used to talk about ability, permission, advice and necessity. Overall, the document serves as a reference for different ways to express common language functions in English.

Uploaded by

Mohammed Alkhafaji
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
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Assistant Lecturer : Ahmed Najm

Abed
University of kufa, Faculty of
Education . Department of English
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)
• I f 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 ( 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 … and 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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