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Quizzes > Literature & Language > English & Grammar

Can You Ace the Content vs Function Words Quiz?

Dive in: Spot content words examples and conquer the function words vs content words challenge

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration showing content and function word cards on teal background for content vs function word quiz

This Content vs Function Words quiz helps you tell content words from function words in real sentences. Use it to check gaps before a test and write clearer, more natural sentences; if you need a quick refresher, see word classes or sentence functions .

Which of the following best describes a content word in English?
An article or determiner.
A conjunction or preposition.
A pronoun or auxiliary verb.
A noun, verb, adjective, or adverb.
Content words are those that carry the main semantic or lexical meaning in a sentence, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. They contrast with function words, which serve grammatical purposes but add little in terms of meaning. Recognizing content words helps in understanding the core message of a sentence.
Which of these words is a function word?
under
quickly
happiness
dog
Function words include prepositions like under, which serve to show relationships between other words rather than carry lexical meaning. They are typically short, high-frequency words that structure sentences. In contrast, words like happiness and quickly are content words that convey specific meaning. Learn more about function words
Identify the content word in the sentence "The cat slept soundly on the mat."
cat
the
The
on
Cat is a noun and thus a content word, since it carries the main semantic information in the sentence. Articles like the and prepositions like on are function words and only serve to connect the content words. Identifying content words is key to parsing the core meaning of a statement.
Which category of words is NOT considered content words?
Nouns
Adverbs
Determiners
Verbs
Determiners (such as the, a, and this) are function words used to specify nouns, not to convey substantial lexical meaning. In contrast, nouns, verbs, and adverbs are content words because they provide the primary semantic content of a sentence. Distinguishing these categories improves your grammatical analysis.
Which of these function words shows possession?
dog
quickly
my
run
My is a possessive determiner, a function word that indicates ownership. It does not carry much lexical meaning on its own but helps specify relationships between nouns. Recognizing possessive determiners is important for parsing sentence structure.
What type of content word is "beautiful"?
Adjective
Conjunction
Noun
Verb
Beautiful is an adjective, which is a content word category used to describe qualities or attributes. Adjectives add semantic detail and enrich the meaning of nouns. They contrast with function words like conjunctions or determiners.
The word "and" is a:
Article
Conjunction
Pronoun
Preposition
And is a coordinating conjunction, a function word used to link words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical rank. Conjunctions serve a grammatical role and carry little independent meaning. Understanding conjunctions helps in delimiting clause boundaries.
Which of these is a closed-class, function word category?
Prepositions
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Prepositions are part of the closed-class function words, meaning the set is limited and rarely gains new members. They serve to express relationships of time, place, and other abstract connections. This closed nature distinguishes them from open-class content words like nouns.
Identify the content word in the sentence "She will have finished by noon."
will
have
She
finished
Finished is the main verb in the sentence and therefore a content word, providing the central action. Words like will and have are auxiliary verbs (function words) that help form the tense. She is a pronoun, also a function word, serving to replace a noun.
Which function word category includes words like "if", "because", and "although"?
Interjections
Determiners
Subordinating conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions
Words like if, because, and although are subordinating conjunctions, which introduce dependent clauses and show a relationship to the main clause. They are function words that structure complex sentences. Coordinating conjunctions (e.g., and, but) link elements of equal rank.
Lexical density measures the proportion of which type of words?
Prepositions
Pronouns
Content words
Function words
Lexical density is calculated by dividing the number of content words by the total number of words in a text, indicating how information-rich the text is. Function words are excluded from this ratio because they serve grammatical functions rather than conveying primary meaning. A higher lexical density often suggests more complex or formal language.
In linguistic morphology, function words typically belong to which class?
Closed class
Open class
Phrasal verbs
Bound morphemes
Function words are part of a closed class, meaning the inventory of these words is fixed and rarely expands. This contrasts with open-class content words like nouns or verbs, which regularly admit new members (e.g., neologisms). Closed-class status helps linguists distinguish core grammatical markers from lexical items.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Content vs Function Words -

    Use clear definitions to spot content words (like nouns and adjectives) and function words (like prepositions and conjunctions) in any sentence.

  2. Differentiate Content Words vs Function Words -

    Analyze word roles to distinguish content-focused vocabulary from grammatical functor words examples in context.

  3. Apply Content Words Examples -

    Leverage common content words examples to enrich your writing with descriptive and meaningful terms.

  4. Analyze Function Words vs Content Words -

    Easily recognize function words vs content words to improve sentence flow and grammatical accuracy.

  5. Classify Words as Content or Functor -

    Practice with quiz questions to classify words accurately and boost your grammar confidence.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Definition of Content vs Function Words -

    Content vs function words form the backbone of English sentence structure: content words like 'dog', 'run', and 'happy' carry lexical meaning, while function words such as 'and', 'to', and 'the' serve grammatical roles. Recognizing this distinction mirrors descriptions in resources like the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language and sets the stage for sharper parsing skills.

  2. Content Words Examples and Characteristics -

    Content words examples include 'freedom', 'analyze', 'vibrant', and 'quickly', showcasing how nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs carry core meaning. These words often accept inflections (run, running, ran), reflecting their semantic flexibility as noted by the Oxford English Dictionary. Remember the mnemonic "LEAD" (Lexical Elements Are Descriptive) to recall their descriptive power.

  3. Function Words Examples and Role -

    Function words - also called functor words - include articles (a, the), auxiliary verbs (is, have), and conjunctions (and, but), each locking content words into clear structures. They're usually short, high-frequency terms that resist inflection, as shown by frequency analysis in the British National Corpus. Mnemonic tip: recall the acronym FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to master coordinating conjunctions.

  4. Identification Strategies and Quiz Techniques -

    One effective way to test yourself on content vs function words (or function words vs content words) is through targeted quizzes that ask you to label each word's type in a sentence, a method endorsed by many university writing centers like Purdue OWL. A handy trick is to ask, "Can I add - able here?" If yes (like in 'readable'), it's likely a content word. Consistent practice with flashcards or digital drills sharpens your identification accuracy.

  5. Application in Reading and Writing -

    Distinguishing content words from function words enhances both writing precision and reading comprehension, as suggested by research from the Modern Language Association. By focusing first on content words, your brain grasps the main ideas, then uses function words to understand relationships - ideal for tackling academic texts. Next time you read, try covering function words to train yourself to infer structure from context.

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