The following is an extensive, but not exhaustive, list of a variety of functions, which form a part of communication between people, and could be useful in any teaching approach:
| accepting or refusing | expressing: | introducing |
| advising | ability or inability | inviting |
| agreeing or disagreeing | certainty or uncertainty | justifying |
| analysing or interpreting | comprehension (or lack of) |
leave-taking, farewelling, or closing (letter) |
|
apologising or forgiving |
emotion | |
| approving or disapproving | hope |
making arrangements |
| asking for / giving information | intention | mediating or conciliating |
| asking for, giving or refusing permission | interest, lack of interest, indifference or boredom | negotiating |
| offering | ||
|
attracting attention |
like, dislike or preference |
persuading or dissuading |
| blaming | planning | |
| clarifying | needs, wishes or wants | praising or blaming |
| comparing | obligation | promising |
| complaining | opinion |
recounting experiences / events |
| confirming / admitting / denying | possibility or impossibility | reporting |
| congratulating or complimenting | probability or improbability | requesting |
| contradicting | regret | responding |
| defining | surprise | seeking / requesting information |
| describing | understanding |
suggesting |
| discussing | greeting or welcoming | thanking |
| encouraging | hypothesising | warning |
| evaluating | identifying | |
| explaining | instructing / directing / ordering |
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