Why is Function more important than Form?

Broadly speaking "function" is the "Why" while "form" is the "How." Students have very little use for explanations in real-life situations so especially in assessments we focus on Function above all else.

Function examples

  1. Talking about your weekend

  2. How was your experience abroad?

  3. Hypothesizing outcomes

  4. Arranging events in the future

  5. Contrasting your company with others

  6. Providing specific characteristics to a product or service

Form examples

  1. Simple Past with Regular & Irregular Verbs

  2. Present Perfect to Describe Experiences

  3. 2nd Conditionals

  4. (Simple Future) Will & Going To VS Present Simple & Continuous (for plans)

  5. Comparatives & Superlatives

  6. Relative Clauses & Pronouns

Given the above grammar terminology is rare in-class and almost entirely absent in assessment tasks.