Sunday, October 2, 2011

English Grammar -- Give money. Sister hungry.

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:

This is a holdup! (from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcfairch/4189169360/sizes/m/in/photostream/)

Here is a beautiful Filipina "robber" (from www.flickr.com/photos/sinabsolution/3509205210/in/photostream). She wants money. Are you afraid?
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.

Comments (20)

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LIU SHU HUI 1019's avatar

LIU SHU HUI 1019 · 704 weeks ago

Dear Teacher
Can I use Give me money her sister is hungry. is OK??
1 reply · active 704 weeks ago
Can I use "Give me money. Her sister is hungry." Is that OK?

We usually wouldn't say "money" alone. Adding a determiner ("the, this, that; a, my, your; some" etc.) is better.
When was junior high school student..I could learn gammer well...
but now ...I feel gammer is so difficult~
and...when I use some words..it needs very carefully if I want to get high grads.
but when I travel the world...I didn't care what 's right gammer...just say it .....
so...now...I just type it ...
If I have type wrong setense or use wrong words...please tell me..tks~
2 replies · active 704 weeks ago
sorry...make a mistake....the first setense change to ...when "I" was~
No big problem. I know what your sentences mean, so you're mostly OK.
Your spelling mistakes are a small problem, but you can use software to find them.
Shorter sentences.are probably better.
sorry...I find the second mistake.....forgive me...I need to retype...
plz to be patient ~ when I was junior high school student, I could learn gammer well.
but now~I feel gammer is so difficult.
Whenever I use the words,I need very carefully and afraid that I use wrong words or gammer if I want get high grads.
Wherever I been to which country travel. I didn't care what is right gammer...just say it!
so now...I just type it ..this is third times...hey hey hey ...teacher I only 7times left! right???
Hello Teacher:
After your second time explanation, I knew what is content words and function words better.

About the reading books we borrowed from the school, Should I choose upper level If I
can understand the meaning without check dictionary? What is your suggestion?
1 reply · active 704 weeks ago
If you understand what you are reading, go ahead and read "upper levels" (not sure which ones you mean), but don't ignore lower levels, either. Some lower levels include excellent stories (a few are terribly boring or badly-written).�The most important thing is to enjoy the stories (and share them with friends).
I thought the voice of speaking English that with loud or soft , just for sounds good before.
It was originally let the sentence meaning clearer . It's a big discover to me. And makes me
know which word should speaks long and heavy, whichone takes short and light. Teacher,
thanks a lot. It was very helpful to speak out when I was reading.
3 replies · active 704 weeks ago
I agree RAY's comment. Especially which word should speaks heavy or short and light..
that's good learn for me....
if we have free time in class, should we practice more...
tks teacher...
Thank you for this useful comment. I'll see what I can do.
I used to think that listening to a native speaker reading a text merely sounds good. Now I understand that��it makes the meaning of a sentence clearer. This was a big discovery for me. Now I�know which words should sound long and heavy, and which one are short and light. Teacher,�
thanks a lot. �Reading out loud�is very helpful.�
Hi teacher:
The 實字Content words (N, VB, ADJ, ADV) and 虛字Function words is important in American?
1 reply · active 704 weeks ago
I'm not sure what your question means, but I'll try to answer it. 

1] People who grow up speaking English 
make important words SOUND important 
   (= content words are long, loud and heavy) 
and less important words sound LESS important 
   (= function words are short, soft and light)

However, most people (even many English teachers) 
don't really understand how they make sounds. 
They don't know which words are long or short, 
so they cannot tell you.

This is like driving a car. If you can drive, 
you know how to get into the car, turn it on and go somewhere,
but you DON'T know the names of all the parts inside the car 
and how they work. Only car mechanics know these things. 

I hope this answers your question.
Hi teacher

Ever since i reading " The Elephant Man " , inspire I to reading English story books, it is believed that the interest is the best teacher,

It is good for our if reading English story books often, I think this is a good way.
Is it better ?
->Since I read a book , The Elephant Man that insprired me to read English story books.....
->Learning English,it's a good way that reading English story books often.
1 reply · active 703 weeks ago
I don't understand. Is what better than what?
But your photo is not relevant
Nice Post.
Nice Information

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