Recognizing the different types of sentence functions
assists you in seeing the writer's purpose
and the organization of the text.
Sentences perform different functions such as
defining, speculating, classifying, reporting,
naming, stating, restating, and exemplifying.
Let me explain each one.
1 Defining
Giving a definition is one characteristic
of academic texts.
A definition is a statement
of the meaning of an idea,
a concept, a word, an object, etc.
Within a definition, you commonly find
these signal words and expressions:
be defined as, mean, refer to,
be the term used for, be known as, etc.
Let's look at an example.
This sentence performs the function of defining.
It gives a definition of "pandemic."
2 Speculating
A speculation is an inference
drawn on the basis of inconclusive evidence
or insufficient information.
Words such as if, or,
may, might, maybe, can, could,
will, and would are frequently used
to indicate the idea or statement
is a speculation or inference
rather than a certified fact.
Keep in mind that may, might,
can, could, will, and would
are known as modals
and here indicate possibility.
What are the speculations in the sentence?
Right, two speculations are made.
The first one is that an increase in taxation
is possible but doubtful,
and the second is that there eventually may
be less spending on other areas.
3 Classifying
To classify means to divide people
or objects into groups
according to their characteristics,
traits or uses.
Words and expressions like class, classification, type,
category, group, kind, set, and sort
are used for that purpose.
For example,
The signal words "grouped" and "categories" are hints
that this sentence serves the function of classifying.
It classifies diseases into two categories.
4 Reporting
Reporting provides direct,
authoritative information in an academic text.
In a reporting sentence, you may
find these words and expressions:
according to, report, announce, and state.
For example,
What is reported in this sentence?
Well, the number of people infected with cholera.
The source of that number is
the World Health Organization,
as indicated by the signal phrase "according to."
5 Naming
It is common in academic texts
to give a name to a new
or unfamiliar concept, idea or theory.
The writer may use be known as, be called,
be referred to as, or be titled
to name something.
For example,
A name is given to the miasma theory
in this sentence by using "known as."
6 Stating and restating
Stating means giving information,
whereas restating means giving that information
in a different way.
Stating and restating are usually used
for the purpose of clarification,
adjustment or emphasis.
Signal expressions like these are used:
that is, that is to say,
in other words, and to put it in another way.
Look at the example.
Here, the first sentence states how bats hunt
while the second sentence is a restatement of the first one
by paraphrasing it.
7 Exemplifying
Providing concrete instances will help make
a viewpoint clear and credible.
Therefore, exemplification is effective
in providing evidence for assertions.
Expressions like for instance,
such as, for example, be exemplified in,
and a good case in point
are used to introduce an example.
For instance,
Here, although there are no obvious
signal expressions like "for instance,"
you can still see that
the second sentence provides an example – SARS.
One specific disease, such as SARS, can illustrate
the point made in the first sentence.
Moreover, sentences with different functions
can work together to form an overall paragraph.
This is well illustrated by the fifth paragraph
taken from Academic exploration 2, Unit 1.
Read these sentences by yourself,
and think for a minute
what function each sentence serves.
Well, the first sentence is a statement.
It is followed by a reporting sentence
that uses findings from previous research
as evidence for the first statement.
By contrast,
the third sentence uses the Scottish study
as an exemplification to contradict
the first two sentences.
The last sentence also functions as a statement
and concludes the paragraph.
Thus, we can see that the overall paragraph
has a contrast structure.
If you can recognize these sentence functions,
you can see how the writer organized the text.
It is advisable to figure out
the function of a sentence
for a better understanding of the text.