From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content words, in linguistics, are words that possess semantic content and contribute to the meaning of the sentence in which they occur. In a traditional approach, nouns were said to name objects and other entities, lexical verbs to indicate actions, adjectives to refer to attributes of entities, and adverbs to attributes of actions. They contrast with function words, which have very little substantive meaning and primarily denote grammatical relationships between content words, such as prepositions (in, out, under etc.), pronouns (I, you, he, who etc.) and conjunctions (and, but, till, as etc.).[1]
All words can be classified as either content or function words, but it is not always easy to make the distinction. With only around 150 function words, 99.9% of words in the English language are content words. Although small in number, function words are used at a disproportionately higher rate than content and make up about 50% of any English text because of the conventional patterns of usage that binds function words to content words almost every time they are used, which creates an interdependence between the two word groups.[1]
Content words are usually open class words, and new words are easily added to the language.[2] In relation to English phonology, content words generally adhere to the minimal word constraint of being no shorter than two morae long (a minimum length of two light syllables or one heavy syllable), but function words often do not.[3]
See also[edit]
- Lexical verb
- Grammaticalization, the process by which words may change from content to function words
References[edit]
- ^ a b Sankin, A.A. (1979) [1966], «I. Introduction» (PDF), in R.S. Ginzburg; S.S. Khidekel; G. Y. Knyazeva; A.A. Sankin (eds.), A Course in Modern English Lexicology (Revised and Enlarged, Second ed.), Moscow: VYSŠAJA ŠKOLA, p. 7, retrieved 30 July 2016
- ^ Winkler, Elizabeth Grace (2007). Understanding Language. Continuum. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-08264-84833.
- ^ Pylkkanen, Liina. «Function Words» (PDF). NYU Department of Psychology. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 30, 2017. Retrieved December 18, 2016.
Updated on October 02, 2018
Each word in English belongs to one of the eight parts of speech. Each word is also either a content word or a function word. Let’s think about what these two types mean:
Content Words vs. Function Words
- Content = information, meaning
- Function = necessary words for grammar
In other words, content words give us the most important information while function words are used to stitch those words together.
Content Word Types
Content words are usually nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. A noun tells us which object, a verb tells us about the action happening, or the state. Adjectives give us details about objects and people and adverbs tell us how, when or where something is done. Nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs give us important information required for understanding.
- Noun = person, place or thing
- Verb = action, state
- Adjective = describes an object, person, place or thing
- Adverb = tells us how, where or when something happens
Examples:
| Nouns | Verbs |
|---|---|
| house | enjoy |
| computer | purchase |
| student | visit |
| lake | understand |
| Peter | believe |
| science | look forward to |
| Adjectives | Adverbs |
|---|---|
| heavy | slowly |
| difficult | carefully |
| careful | sometimes |
| expensive | thoughtfully |
| soft | often |
| fast | suddenly |
Other Content Words
While nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs are the most important content words, there are a few other words that are also key to understanding. These include negatives like no, not and never; demonstrative pronouns including this, that, these and those; and question words like what, where, when, how and why.
Function Word Types
Function words help us connect important information. Function words are important for understanding, but they add little meaning beyond defining the relationship between two words. Function words include auxiliary verbs, prepositions, articles, conjunctions, and pronouns. Auxiliary verbs are used to establish the tense, prepositions show relationships in time and space, articles show us something that is specific or one of many, and pronouns refer to other nouns.
- Auxiliary verbs = do, be, have (help with conjugation of tense)
- Prepositions = show relationships in time and space
- Articles = used to indicate specific or non-specific nouns
- Conjunctions = words that connect
- Pronouns = refer to other nouns
Examples:
| Auxiliary Verbs | Prepositions |
|---|---|
| do | in |
| has |
at |
| will | though |
| is | over |
| has been | between |
| did | under |
| Articles | Conjunctions | Pronouns |
|---|---|---|
| a | and | I |
| an | but | you |
| the | for | him |
| so | us | |
| since | ours | |
| as | she |
Knowing the difference between content and functions words is important because content words are stressed in conversation in English. Function words are non-stressed. In other words, function words are not emphasized in speech, while content words are highlighted. Knowing the difference between content and function words can help you in understanding, and, most importantly, in pronunciation skills.
Exercise
Decide which words are function and content words in the following sentences.
- Mary has lived in England for ten years.
- He’s going to fly to Chicago next week.
- I don’t understand this chapter of the book.
- The children will be swimming in the ocean this time next week.
- John had eaten lunch before his colleague arrived.
- The best time to study is early in the morning or late in the evening.
- The trees along the river are beginning to blossom.
- Our friends called us yesterday and asked if we’d like to visit them next month.
- You’ll be happy to know that she’s decided to take the position.
- I won’t give away your secret.
Check your answers below:
Exercise Answers
Content words are in bold.
- Mary has lived in England for ten years.
- He’s going to fly to Chicago next week.
- I don’t understand this chapter of the book.
- The children will be swimming in the ocean at five o’clock.
- John had eaten lunch before his colleague arrived.
- The best time to study is early in the morning or late in the evening.
- The trees along the river are beginning to blossom.
- Our friends called us yesterday and asked if we’d like to visit them next month.
- You’ll be happy to know that she’s decided to take the position.
- I won’t give away your secret.
В английском языке существуют правила, которые встречаются крайне редко. И даже если иногда кажется, что все темы уже давно пройдены, спешим вас обрадовать, — у нас еще есть, чем удивить. В данной статье мы рассмотрим один из таких примеров, а именно разницу между content (самостоятельные) и function (служебные) words.
Кроме того, что все английские слова делятся на 8 частей речи, они также относятся к одной из перечисленных групп: content или function. Прежде чем детально рассмотреть каждую из них, предлагаем сперва разобраться, что же они значат.
Content Words = информация или значение
Function Words = слова, необходимые для грамматического построения предложений
Иными словами, content words дают нам важную пояснительную информацию о словах в предложении, а function — связывают эти слова в предложении между собой.
Виды знаменательных слов или content word types
Самостоятельные слова чаще всего выступают в роли существительного, глагола, прилагательного или наречия. Самостоятельное слово в качестве существительного указывает на объект, а глагола — на происходящее действие или состояние. Прилагательные же дают нам информацию о предмете, в то время как наречия говорят о том, как, где и когда было совершено действие. При этом, все перечисленные части речи в качестве самостоятельных слов предоставляют необходимые для понимания ситуации данные.
Имя существительное = человек, предмет или место
Глагол = действие или состояние
Имя прилагательное = описание предмета, человека, места или объекта
Наречие = описание предмета, человека, места или объекта
Например:
Building — здание (имя существительное, указывает на объект).
Phoebe — Фиби (имя собственное, указывает на человека).
River — река (имя существительное, указывает на объект).
Science — наука (имя существительное, указывает на объект).
Box — коробка (имя существительное, указывает на предмет).
Smile — улыбаться (глагол, указывает на действие).
Buy — покупать (глагол, указывает на действие).
Learn — учить (глагол, указывает на действие).
Take care about — заботиться (глагол, указывает на действие).
Trust — доверять (глагол, указывает на состояние).
Light — светлый (имя прилагательное, описывает предмет).
Difficult — сложный (имя прилагательное, описывает действие/ситуацию).
Kind — добрый (имя прилагательное, описывает человека).
Chip — светлый (имя прилагательное, описывает предмет).
Tender — мягкий (имя прилагательное, описывает предмет).
Slow — медленный (имя прилагательное, описывает действие/ситуацию).
Quickly — быстро (наречие; описывает действие).
Carefully — осторожно (наречие; описывает действие).
Often — часто (наречие; описывает действие).
Slowly — медленно (наречие; описывает действие).
Кроме всех перечисленных выше частей речи, самостоятельные слова также могут выступать в роли:
- Отрицательных частиц/слов: no, not и never.
- Указательных местоимений: this, that, these и those.
- Вопросительных слов: what, where, when, how and why.
Виды функциональных слов или function word types
Функциональные слова соединяют слова в предложении. Функциональными словами могут быть вспомогательные глаголы, предлоги, артикли, союзы и местоимения. Вспомогательные глаголы указывают на время (например: Present Simple, Past Perfect и т. д.), предлоги — на пространственно-временные отношения слов в предложении. Артикли говорят о числе и конкретике, а местоимения указываю на существительное (объект, человека).
К вспомогательным глаголам относятся все формы do, have, be.
Артикли: a/an, the.
Например:
In — в (предлог, указывает на пространственно-временные отношения).
At — в/на (предлог, указывает на пространственно-временные отношения).
Between — между (предлог, указывает на пространственно-временные отношения).
Under — под (предлог, указывает на пространственно-временные отношения).
And — и (союз).
But — но (союз).
So — так (союз).
As — как, согласно (союз).
Since — с тех пор, как (союз).
Ours — наш (местоимение).
I — я (местоимение).
We — мы (местоимение).
Him — его (местоимение).
Знать о существовании самостоятельных и функциональных слов важно не только для общего развития, но и потому что первые всегда выделяются во время разговора (ударение). Функциональные же слова не выделяются интонационно. Таким образом, изучив эту статью вы значительно улучшите свои коммуникационные навыки и станете еще ближе к чистой британской речи.
Every word in English refers to one of eight parts of speech . Each word is also either meaningful or functional. Let’s think about what these two types mean: Here we will explain the Content and function semantic unit of a text. In other words with examples.
- Content = information, meaning
- Function = necessary words for grammar
In other words, meaningful words give us the most important information, and control words are used to combine these words.
Content word types
Content words are usually nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. A noun tells us which object, a verb tells us about an action or state that is taking place. Adjectives give us detailed information about objects and people, and adverbs tell us how, when and where something is done. Nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs give us important information we need to understand.
- Noun = person, place, or thing
- Verb = action, state
- Adjective = describes an object, person, place, or thing
- Adverb = tells us how, where and when something happens
| Examples: | |
| Nouns | Verbs |
| house | enjoy |
| a computer | purchase |
| student | visit |
| lake | understand |
| Peter | believe |
| the science | look forward |
| Examples: | |
| Adjectives | Adverbs |
| heavy | slow |
| hard | attentively |
| careful | sometimes |
| expensive | thoughtfully |
| soft | often |
Other words of content
While nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are the most important words in the content, there are several other words that are also key to understanding. These include negatives such as “no,” “no,” and “never”; demonstrative pronouns, including this, that, and those; and question words such as what, where, when, how, and why.
Types of function words
Functional words help us connect important information. Functional words are important to understand, but they add no meaning other than defining the relationship between two words.
Functional words include
- auxiliary verbs,
- prepositions,
- articles,
- conjunctions,
- and pronouns.
Auxiliary verbs are used to indicate time, prepositions show relationships in time and space, articles show us something specific or one of many, and pronouns refer to other nouns.
- Auxiliary verbs = to do, to be, to have (helps with tense conjugation )
- Prepositions = show relationships in time and space
- Determiners/Articles = are used to refer to specific or non-specific nouns
- Conjunctions = words that connect
- Pronouns = refer to other nouns
Examples
- Prepositions:
of, at, in, without, between - Pronouns:
he, they, anybody, it, one - Determiners/Articles:
the, a, that, my, more, much, either,
neither - Conjunctions:
and, that, when, while, although, or - Auxiliary verbs :
verbs be (is, am, are), have, got, do
We hope that you have understood the Content and function words.