The document outlines key concepts in functional English grammar for second language learners. It discusses the difference between formal and functional grammar, with functional grammar focusing on how language is used to communicate meaning in authentic contexts. It also covers levels of analysis including phonology, lexicon, grammar, and semantics. The organization of grammar is explained including words, phrases, clauses, sentences, and word classes. Grammatical functions like subjects, finites, objects, and complements are defined. The document emphasizes teaching grammar in a meaningful way so students understand how grammar allows people to exchange meanings.

1. UNIVERSIDADE LUTERANA DO BRASIL
OUTLINE
FUNCTIONAL ENGLISH GRAMMAR – NA INTRODUCTION FOR SECOND
LANGUAGE
Airan Abdalla Costa
July 10th, 2010

2. Basic concepts: Grammar
 Two central questions
What are the principles of Grammar?
What is the relationship between grammar and meaning?
 Formal and Functional grammar
o Definition of grammar
 Set of rules: specify all the possible grammatical structures of the
language (formal)
 System of communication: discover how it is organized to allow
speakers and writers to make and exchange meanings (use of
authentic texts: written and spoken ones), looking for specific
contexts (functional).
o Functional grammar and language teaching
 Nowadays, students should be motivated to learn another
language (it should be meaningful – people want to
communicate, desire of communicate in another language in a
fast way)
 Teachers should show what they (grammar functions) are for and
how they are used.
o Level of analysis
 Phonology: pronunciation of words
 Lexical approach: vocabulary (neologisms can be learned here)
 Grammar
 The arrangement of words
 The internal structure of words
E.g.: He kicked the ball out of the court.
If we are interested in how the words combine to form a
meaningful sentence, it is called syntax.
If we are interested in the fact the word kicked can be
divided into two parts, it is called morphology.
 Semantics: related to the real world of people, actions, places…
 The organization of grammar
o Word
o Units (groups) = phrases
o Clauses
o Sentences

3. o Word classes
 Noun
 Verb
 Adjective
 Adverb
 Meaning in grammar
o Experiential meaning: Peggy arrived at 8:30.
 Represents facts (real situation)
o Interpersonal meaning: Did Peggy arrive at 8: 30.
 Give and request information, getting people to do things, and
offering to do things ourselves – and the ways in which we
express our judgments and attitudes – about such things as
likelihood, necessity, and desirability.
o Textual meaning: She arrived at 8:30.
 It requires a preceding sentence such as Peggy left for the office
at about 8 to know who she refers to.
 Grammatical functions
o Identifying subjects
o Identifying finites
 Tenses
 Number agreement
 Was, were
 Is, are
 Clauses without finites
 Object
 Complement
 Adjunct
 Predicator
 Learning and teaching subject and finite
o Regular distinction between finite and non-finite verb forms