Language functions and related language
structures
The different functions of language have different
linguistic demands.
Each function has its own typical language structures.
EVALUATING YOURSELF
This worked well / was
effective because.
I did this well because.
It would have been better if
I..
This could be improved by.
Progress is /is not evident
because
This succeeds because---
SEEKING
ASSISTANCE
Can I have help
with..?
Would you help me
to..?
I need help with
Please assist me
Please lend a hand
with----
ASKING PERMISSION
REQUESTS
Can I..?
May I.?
Would it be possible for
me..?
Is it all right if.?
Would it be ok if?
Do you mind if I-----?
I request-----
Please let/permit/allow me to
Would you agree to------
APOLOGISING
Sorry.
Im sorry for.
I regret
Please forgive me for -
----
I apologise for ------
Pardon me.
Excuse me.
I beg your pardon.
AGREEING/DISAGREEING
I agree /disagree with that
because..
I dont agree with you
because..
This is incorrect because
I concur /dont concur
I accept /dont accept
This is correct/incorrect/
That is right /wrong ..
EXPLAINING
This happens because
This can be explained
by
When this then
that
The results show that--
It is evident that------.
The reason for this is-.
This causes-to happen
which results in----
This works by----
CLASSIFYING
These go together because---
These objects are similar
because------
The common feature of this set
is--------
The criteria we used for this
group is-------
We classified these by-------
PREDICTION
HYPOTHESIS
We will probably see---
because-----.
The result of this will
be-----.
If..then.
I predict..
I would expect
It is likely that
Because-----this will
happen.
GENERALISING
Usually/mostly
In most cases
Normally
In general
As a rule
By and large/
On average
OBSERVATION
I noticed that.
I observed.
I saw
It was evident that
I discerned
I perceived that
I became aware of
COMPARING?CONTRASTING
Its much (better, longer, further
etc)
The are by far the ..
Less than
More than
Better than
Worse than
Best/worst
COMMANDING
I insist that.!
Do this!
I command you to---!
You must---!
At once-----!
I order-----!
I decree----!
I demand----!
(At once!)
INQUIRY
How can.?
Would/could/ should----?
What do you think of.?
How do you feel about?
Whats your opinion of.?
What is your view of?
What would happen if..?
Do you think---?
Can---?
May----?
DENIAL
It wasnt me!
It is not possible
because-
There must be a
misunderstanding as--
I dont admit to!
I deny this...!
I wasnt involved
in/with.
This has nothing to do
with me---!
I reject/deny/refute the
accusation!
WISHING HOPING
I am hopeful that.
Wouldnt it be
wonderful/great/good cool if
I would really like/fancy ..?
I want/wish
I desire
It is my wish/desire
PREFERENCE
I prefer..because
I would prefer it if.
This is better than-
because-
I favour---
I incline
towardsmore than
I appreciate/enjoy/like-
-more
This is not as good
as
EXPRESSING POSITION
My opinion is..
My view is..
I believe that-----
My position on this is
My attitude is---
My outlook is---
Personally I believe----
OBLIGATION
I ought to
I shouldso that
Id betterbecause
Im obliged
tobecause.
I have to/must
I have no
option/choice but
My duty requires me to
---
I am committed to---
I am required byto---
My responsibility is
to----therefore I
must----
REFUSAL
No!
Absolutely not!
I cant/ wont/shant because---
I dont wish to because
I am unable to because----
I would if I could but---
Unfortunately this is not
possible because-----
Sorry.
SUGGESTIONS
CRITICAL
FEEDBACK
The successful
features of this are----
It would be better if.
In future you could----
This could be
improved by--
It will work better
when---
It was good when----
I really liked the part
where
This worked here why
dont you do it again
with----?
Another way of doing
that might be
Have you thought
about--?
WARNING OF
CONSEQUENCE
If this----then !
The consequence of this will be
If you continue ---will !
The penalty/price for----is----!
Dont or else!
The outcome/result of---will be-
You will pay for--- with----!
DEDUCTION
Putting every thing
together the answer
must be--
There is a pattern
which suggests that----
Looking at all the clues
the answer must be
Logic suggests that---
SEQUENCE
First of all
Next
Then we
After that
Meanwhile
After a while
Afterwards
Finally
At last
INFERENCE
Reading between the
lines
While nobody actually
said this---It is
clear/the inference is
that --
The words say one
thing but the
pictures/actions
/expressions tell us
that----
Body language makes
it clear that---
Nobody said anything
but we all understood
from/because of the---
that----
