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Glite Dictionary
function word

function word

1.0
A word that shows the grammar of a sentence, like and or the
  • noun
  • /ˈfʌŋkʃən wɜrd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : palabra funcional
  • In English, function words connect sentences and help convey meaning.
  • short function words

Examples

  • Linguists classify words like 'and' and 'the' as function words.

  • Examples of function words include prepositions and pronouns.

  • Yet there is evidence that function words, such as clitics, are not produced or omitted in a haphazard fashion.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Negative particles, pronouns, and function words stand at the interface of the preconscious/conscious system and the unconscious one.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Function words (articles, conjunctions, prepositions) assume schematic importance.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The most common errors were the use of function words (e.g., prepositions, conjunctions, and determiners).

    Academic text (2014)

Synonyms

functor
vsfunction word
  • Specialized
9.9

A word that shows the relationship between other words, like 'the' or 'and'

is a descriptive definition focusing on expressing grammatical relationships
closed-class word
vsfunction word
  • Specialized
8.3

A word from a small fixed set that helps show grammar, like in or and

focuses on expressing grammatical relationships rather than membership in a fixed set

How Lexical

content word
  • Specialized
4.4
auxiliary verb
  • Specialized
1 2.9
particle
  • Specialized
5 6.2
function word
  • Specialized
1.0

Surface Forms

function word singular
function words plural

Morphology

function + word

The compound is directly compositional: 'function' (role or purpose) + 'word' (a lexical item) yields a word whose purpose is grammatical rather than lexical. This pattern is cross-linguistically common (many languages have an equivalent term), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Function word comes from the idea that the parts function and word mean a small word that does a job in a sentence. Imagine these words as tiny helpers or tools that link other words and show 'grammar' relations, so they help the sentence work rather than carry the main meaning.