7.4 Functional Language: Requests, Offers, Opinions & Everyday Exchanges
Key Takeaways
Cambridge's A2 Key for Schools language specifications include an inventory of functions, notions and communicative tasks, realised in the simplest possible ways.
Writing Part 6 relies on functions such as inviting, suggesting, apologising, thanking and giving information to a named reader.
Speaking Part 2 is built on expressing likes, dislikes and preferences, giving reasons, and agreeing or disagreeing politely.
Reading Part 1 notices often express obligation (have to), prohibition (mustn't), permission (can) and lack of obligation (don't have to).
Conversation-management phrases such as 'Sorry, can you say that again, please?' belong to the official inventory and support the Interactive Communication mark.
7.4 Functional Language: Requests, Offers, Opinions & Everyday Exchanges
Cambridge's language specifications for A2 Key for Schools include an inventory of functions, notions and communicative tasks: the things a candidate should be able to do with English, such as greeting people, asking the way, making suggestions or expressing preferences. The handbook says these functions are realised "in the simplest possible ways", so the goal is a small set of reliable phrases rather than advanced idioms. Functions run through every paper. Reading Part 1 notices give instructions and warnings, Writing Part 6 asks you to invite, suggest or apologise, Listening Parts 3 and 4 test opinions and agreement, and Speaking Part 2 is built on likes, dislikes and reasons. OpenExamPrep provides this independent study resource to help learners turn the official list into language they can use under exam pressure.
The Functions, Grouped for Study
The official inventory is a long list. Grouping it makes it easier to learn and shows where each group earns marks:
| Function Group | Useful A2 Phrases | Where It Appears Most |
|---|---|---|
| Social contact: greeting, introducing, thanking, apologising, paying compliments, sympathising | Hi, I'm Leo. / This is my friend Maya. / Thanks a lot! / I'm sorry I'm late. / What a great photo! / Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that. | Speaking Part 1, Writing Part 6, Listening Part 1 |
| Personal information: name, age, address, family, education, describing people and objects | I'm thirteen. / I live near the station. / She's tall with curly hair. / It's small, round and made of plastic. | Speaking Part 1, Listening Part 2, Reading Part 2 |
| Requests, offers, suggestions and invitations | Could you lend me…? / Shall I help you? / Why don't we…? / How about…? / Would you like to come…? | Writing Part 6, Listening Parts 3–5, Speaking Part 2 |
| Rules and advice: obligation, lack of obligation, prohibition, permission, advice, warnings | You have to… / You don't have to… / You mustn't… / Can I…? / You should… / Be careful! | Reading Part 1, Listening Part 4 |
| Opinions and feelings: likes, dislikes, preferences, agreement, disagreement, needs and wants | I love…because… / I prefer…to… / I agree. / I don't think so. / I'd like… | Speaking Part 2, Listening Parts 3–4 |
| Time, travel and shopping: telling the time and date, directions, travel information, prices | It starts at half past two. / Turn left at the bank. / A return ticket, please. / How much is it? | Listening Parts 1–2, Reading Part 1 |
Managing a Conversation
Several items in the inventory are about keeping communication going: asking for repetition and clarification, restating what has been said, checking meaning, helping others express their ideas, interrupting politely, and asking for the spelling and meaning of words. These phrases are small, but they are exactly what the Interactive Communication scale describes:
- Asking for repetition: Sorry, can you say that again, please?
- Checking meaning: What does "pitch" mean? / So you mean the big park?
- Asking for spelling: How do you spell that?
- Helping your partner: What do you think, Ana? / Do you like this one too?
- Interrupting politely: Sorry, can I say something?
Cambridge's handbook says that asking the interlocutor or partner to repeat something will not normally result in any loss of marks, so learn these phrases until they come out automatically.
Ability, Possibility and Certainty
The inventory includes expressing ability in the present and past, talking about probability and possibility, and expressing degrees of certainty and doubt:
- Ability: I can swim, but I couldn't when I was six.
- Possibility: It might rain later. / Maybe we'll win.
- Certainty and doubt: I'm sure she's at home. / I don't think he'll come.
These words matter in Listening. A speaker who says maybe we'll go to the beach has not decided; a speaker who says OK, let's go to the beach has. In Part 3 and Part 5, possibility language often marks a distractor, while decision language marks the answer.
Comparisons, Purpose, Cause and Result
The inventory asks candidates to make comparisons, express degrees of difference, and give reasons, purposes and results:
- Comparison: The bus is cheaper than the train. / This one is much bigger. / It's not as good as the old one.
- Purpose: I went to the shop to buy some bread.
- Cause and reason: I stayed at home because I was ill.
- Result: It was raining, so we played inside.
In Speaking Part 2, every opinion needs a reason, and because plus a comparison (because it's more exciting than…) is one of the easiest ways to extend an answer.
Reporting What People Say
The inventory includes reporting what people say. At A2 this means simple patterns such as She says she's tired and He told me to wait. Reported speech is common in Listening Part 5, where one speaker explains what other people want or have decided (Dad said he wants the blue one), and in Reading texts that retell a conversation.
Choosing the Right Register
The same function sounds different to a friend and to a teacher, and Writing Part 6 always names the person you are writing to:
| Function | To a Friend | To a Teacher |
|---|---|---|
| Request | Can you send me the photos? | Could you send me the homework, please? |
| Apology | Sorry I missed your party! | I'm sorry I missed the class on Monday. |
| Opening | Hi Sam, | Dear Mr Hall, |
| Closing | See you soon, | Best wishes, |
At A2, simple polite forms (Could you…, please?, Thank you) are enough; there is no need for formal business phrases.
Your friend invites you to a birthday party in a Writing Part 6 task. Which sentence is the most natural way to accept?
I am obliged to attend your event.
You must come to my house first.
I would prefer that you do not invite me.
Yes, I'd love to come! What time does it start?
In Speaking Part 2, your partner uses a word you don't know. Which phrase from the conversation-management functions is best?
Stop talking, please.
You're wrong about that.
Sorry, what does that word mean?
I'm sure she's at home.
A library notice says: 'You mustn't use your phone in the reading room, but you don't have to leave it at the desk.' Which two functions does it express?
Prohibition and lack of obligation
Advice and an offer
Permission and an invitation
Obligation and a warning
Sections you finish are checked off in the contents.
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