FUNCTIONAL PARTS OF SPEECH

Abstract

This article examines the major functional parts of speech in English, 
focusing on their structural, semantic, and discourse-organizing roles within the 
grammatical system. Unlike content words, which carry lexical meaning, functional 
categories provide relational and grammatical information that shapes syntactic 
structure and textual cohesion. The study outlines the nature of articles, prepositions, 
conjunctions, auxiliary and modal verbs, pronouns, determiners, particles, and 
interjections, emphasizing their distinct behaviors and contributions to linguistic 
organization. Historical perspectives—from traditional grammar to structuralist, 
generative, and corpus-based approaches—are incorporated to highlight shifts in 
classification and methodology. The analysis also addresses cross-linguistic 
challenges, especially for speakers of article-less or case-based languages such as 
Uzbek, demonstrating the pedagogical and translational implications of functional 
categories. Ultimately, the study underscores the centrality of function words in 
encoding grammatical relationships, guiding interpretation, and enabling effective 
communication.