Content and Function Words

Each word in English belongs to one of the eight parts of speech. Each word in English is also either a content words or a function word. Let's think about what these two types mean:
 
Content = information, meaning
Function = necessary words for grammar
 
In other words, content words give us the most important information while function words are used to stitch those words together.
 
1-Content Word Types
 
Content words are usually nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs. (Negatives, demonstrative pronouns, question words are also considered content words as they are necessary for the sentence to be understood) A noun tells us which object, a verb tells us about the action happening, or the state. Adjectives give us details about objects and people and adverbs tell us how, when or where something is done. Nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs give us important information required for understanding.
Noun = person, place or thing
Verb = action, state
Adjective = describes an object, person, place or thing
Adverb = tells us how, where or when something happens
Negative=determines our answer
Demonstrative pronouns=help to make sentences more specific.
Question words=clarify the relation between the action and the time, place, manner….of its occurrence.
Examples:
Nouns: house, computer, student, lake, Peter, science
Verbs: enjoy, purchase, visit, understand, believe,
Look forward to.
Adjectives: heavy, difficult, careful, expensive, soft
 fast.
Adverbs: slowly, carefully, sometimes, thoughtfully,
 often ,suddenly.
negatives :no, not and never,
demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these and those, question words: what, where, when, how and why.
 
Function Word Types
 
Function words help us connect important information. Function words are important for understanding, but they add little in meaning beyond defining the relationship between two words. Function words include: auxiliary verbs, prepositions, articles, conjunctions and pronouns. Auxiliary verbs are used to establish the tense, prepositions show relationships in time and space, articles show us something that is specific or one of many, and pronouns refer to other nouns.
Auxiliary verbs = do, be, have - help with conjugation of tense
Prepositions = show relationships in time and space
Articles = used to indicate specific or non-specific nouns
Conjunctions = words that connect
Pronouns = refer to other nouns
Examples:
Auxiliary Verbs: do, has, will, is, has been, did
Prepositions: in ,at, through, over, between, under
 
Articles: a, an , the
 
Conjunctions: and, but, for, so, since, as,
 
 
Pronouns: I, you, him, us, ours, she.

Why is this Important?
Knowing the difference between content and functions words is important because content words are stressed in conversation in English. Function words are non-stressed. In other words, function words are not emphasized in speech, while content words are highlighted. Knowing the difference between content and function words can help you in understanding, and, most importantly, in pronunciation skills.
Exercise:
Decide which words are function and content words in the following sentences.
1-Mary has lived in England for ten years.
2-He's going to fly to Chicago next week.
3-I don't understand this chapter of the book.
4-The children will be swimming in the ocean this time next week.
5-John had eaten lunch before his colleague arrived.
6-The best time to study is early in the morning or late in the evening.
7-The trees along the river are beginning to blossom.
8-Our friends called us yesterday and asked if we'd like to visit them next month.
9-You'll be happy to know that she's decided to take the position.
10-I won't give away your secret.
Check your answers below:
Exercise Answers
Content words are in bold.
1-Mary has lived in England for ten years.
2-He's going to fly to Chicago next week.
3-I don't understand this chapter of the book.
4-The children will be swimming in the ocean at five o'clock.
5-John had eaten lunch before his colleague arrived.
6-The best time to study is early in the morning or late in the evening.
7-The trees along the river are beginning to blossom.
8-Our friends called us yesterday and asked if we'd like to visit them next month.
9-You'll be happy to know that she's decided to take the position.
10-I won't give away your secret.