Form Function

In grammar we will often speak of the difference between form and function. Instinctively Form is what somet Take for example a firefighter. In form a firefighter is easily identifiable. We know the equipment, the basic uniform, etc. In function a firefighter is still pretty obvious in most situations. We recognize the firefighter climbing a ladder, hosing down a building, or carrying someone away from the flames. But in function the firefighter can also, for example, speak to c The person is still in form a firefighter, but depending on the context he or she will function different ways. It's the same way with grammar. A word that by itself is a noun might sometimes function as somet Take the word Monday in the following sentence. Monday is my favorite day of the week. Monday, being a word that is always capitalized, is a proper noun in form. Here it functions as the subject of the sentence. No big deal, right? Take a look at t I attended the Monday game. Is Monday still a noun? In form, yes, but in function, no. Can you tell what it functions as in t Well, it comes right before a noun, which most Let's use those adjective questions to put it to the test. W The Monday game. Since it describes or clarifies game, it functions as an adjective in t So what's the right answer? Well, in terms of improving your writing, it's more important to know how somet Remember, form is really only important if the word is standing by itself. As Let's look at some examples. Call. In form, what is t Is it a noun? Is it a verb? An adjective? We have no idea because we have no context. I call my brother after every brewer's game. In t It is the action of the sentence. Let's look at t I won'take the call from the telemarketer because I don't want to be disturbed. Here, the word is preceded by the word the, w But more importantly, it functions as the direct object of the sentence and I worked at the call center after school during my junior year. Here, call follows an article, the, but precedes a noun, center. In English, we never string nouns together without commas between them. That must make call an adjective. It functions to describe the word center. W The call center. When you are trying to figure out a word, ask yourself what it is doing in the sentence and you'll have the best answer.