What is grammar? Grammar has two important parts:
1] Where we put words and
2] How words change shape (they look or sound different)
Every language has two kinds of words: 實字Content words (N, VB, ADJ, ADV) and 虛字Function words (Preposition, determiners, helping verbs etc.). Content words show most of the meaning. Look at these two sentences. A robber is talking:
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| This is a holdup! (from http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcfairch/4189169360/sizes/m/in/photostream/) |
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| Here is a beautiful Filipina "robber" (from www.flickr.com/photos/sinabsolution/3509205210/in/photostream). She wants money. Are you afraid? |
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| That's my uncle Benjamin's picture. Really! If you have one of these pictures, you should give it to me. All of this money is mine! ;-) Just kidding! (from http://www.flickr.com/photos/amagill/3366720659/sizes/m/in/photostream/) |
Let's imagine that these are the robber's words.
1. Give money. (VB + N)
2. Sister hungry. (N + ADJ)
Can you understand what she is saying? These two sentences only have content words (nouns, verbs and adjectives). The sentences are not “good” English, but we can understand most of the meaning:
1 = A beautiful woman wants money
2 = Somebody’s sister is hungry.
Some things are not clear, however:
Whose money is it? How much money does she want? Whose sister is hungry?
If we add function words (in red), the meaning becomes clearer. Each of these four sentences is slightly different (we could make even more sentences).
Give me some money. My sister is hungry.
Give her your money. Her sister is hungry.
Give him your money. His sister is hungry.
Give us that money. Our sister is hungry.
Content words and function words give spoken English a special rhythm. If you want to speak and understand English well, you must pay attention to this rhythm. Use the same rhythm when you speak. Correct rhythm makes your English easy to understand.
Function words are one important part of English grammar. If you use the wrong function words or no function words, people will usually understand you. If you use the correct function words, your meaning will be clearer.
