Form or Function ?
One of the things about teaching grammar, is the importance some of your students will place on having rules to work with.
This is not always easy, but two elements to consider are the FORM or HOW you produce the language, and the FUNCTION or WHAT you want the utterance to mean. Take a look at the pairs of sentences below and you will see what is meant by Form/Function.
1. It might rain. He might arrive.
This time the form is the same for both sentences; might+bare infinitive.
The function is also the same, as the might suggests we aren't sure about either fact.
2. He's going to jump. He's going to fall.
This time the form is the same ; the going to future+bare infinitive.
The function, though, is different in each case. In the first instance, we see intention or plan, but in the second, the going to is used to make a visual prediction.
3. I wish you didn't smoke. I wish you wouldn't smoke.
This time the form is different; wish+ past simple, wish+would.
The function is also different. The second one sounds like the speaker is irritated.
4. That'll be Fred. I'll do it in the morning.
The form is again the same: will+bare infinitive.
The function is different. The first one suggests a prediction based on fact, the second one could be a spontaneous offer.
5. I've got two children. I have two children.
This time the form is different, but the function is the same.
As you can see, there are different ways to say the same thing, and different uses of standard grammatical forms.
Always check for both of these when you are preparing for your classes. That way you won't confuse yourself, or your students!
This is not always easy, but two elements to consider are the FORM or HOW you produce the language, and the FUNCTION or WHAT you want the utterance to mean. Take a look at the pairs of sentences below and you will see what is meant by Form/Function.
1. It might rain. He might arrive.
This time the form is the same for both sentences; might+bare infinitive.
The function is also the same, as the might suggests we aren't sure about either fact.
2. He's going to jump. He's going to fall.
This time the form is the same ; the going to future+bare infinitive.
The function, though, is different in each case. In the first instance, we see intention or plan, but in the second, the going to is used to make a visual prediction.
3. I wish you didn't smoke. I wish you wouldn't smoke.
This time the form is different; wish+ past simple, wish+would.
The function is also different. The second one sounds like the speaker is irritated.
4. That'll be Fred. I'll do it in the morning.
The form is again the same: will+bare infinitive.
The function is different. The first one suggests a prediction based on fact, the second one could be a spontaneous offer.
5. I've got two children. I have two children.
This time the form is different, but the function is the same.
As you can see, there are different ways to say the same thing, and different uses of standard grammatical forms.
Always check for both of these when you are preparing for your classes. That way you won't confuse yourself, or your students!