Functions and notions

Level 1

January 2011
Information within this document is from the Council of Europe Waystage specification.
© Council of Europe

www.pearsonpte.com
PTE General Level 1 is designed to be aligned to Level A2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for
Languages developed by the Council of Europe also known as ‘Waystage Level’. The following represents the range
of functions and notions that learners should be able to use to function effectively and efficiently at this level. The
information has been reproduced with permission from the Council of Europe (reference DC/198/SL/CP dated 14
December 2010) from the Waystage 1990 specification (© Council of Europe, 1991). The full description has been
published by Cambridge University Press and is also available on the Council of Europe website:
http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/linguistic/Waystage_CUP.pdf

Language functions
The Learner CAN impart and seek factual information

identifying asking answering questions

• with pointing gesture • for confirmation • for confirmation
– (an object) this one, that one, – interrogative sentences – Yes, No (+tag)
these, those – declarative sentences with
• for information
– me, you, him, her, us, them high-rising intonation
– declarative sentences
– the this, that, these, those – short questions
– (time) adverb,
– (+N) + be + NP
• for information prepositional phrases
– I, you, he, she, it we, they + be + NP
– wh questions: – (place) adverb, prepositional
reporting (describing and narrating) (time) when? phrase
(place) where? – (manner) adverb,
• declarative sentences
(manner) how? prepositional phrase
– NP + say, thing +
(degree) how far/much/long/ – (degree) adverb,
complement clause
hot/etc.? prepositional phrase
correcting (reason) why? – (reason) (because +)
• as with identifying and reporting declarative sentence.
• seeking identification
sections above, with contrastive stress • seeking identification
– wh questions:
correcting a positive statement – see identifying section above
(person) who?
– No (+tag)
(possession) whose + NP?
– negative sentences
(thing) what?
correcting a negative statement
which (+ NP)?
– Yes (+ tag)

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The learner CAN express and find out attitudes

factual: agreement, etc. factual: knowledge negative

• expressing agreement with a statement • stating whether one knows or does – NP + cannot…
– I agree not know something or someone – I don’t think so
– That’s right – I (don’t) know (+ NP) – I don’t think + that clause
with a positive statement • enquiring whether one knows or does • enquiring how (un)certain others are
– Yes (+ tag) not know something or someone of something
– Of course – Do(n’t) you know (+ NP)? – Are you (quite)sure?
– Certainly – Are you (quite) sure + that clause?
with a negative statement factual: modality – Do you think so?
– No (+tag) • expressing ability and inability – Do you think + that clause?
– Of course not – NP+ can(not) • expressing one is (not) obliged to
– Certainly not • enquiring about ability and inability do something
• expressing disagreement with – Can(not) + NP? – I/we (don’t) have to…
a statement • enquiring whether one is obliged to
factual: certainty
– That’s not right do something
– I don’t agree • expressing how (un)certain one is
– Do I/we have to…?
of something
with positive statements
strong positive • giving permission
– No (+ tag)
– I’m sure (+ that clause) – You can
– Certainly not
– I’m certain (+ that clause) – You may
– I don’t think so
– Yes
with negative statements positive
– declarative sentence – Of course (you may)
– Yes (+ tag)
– I know + that clause – (That’s) all right
– I think + positive statement
intermediate • seeking permission
• enquiring about agreement
– I think so – May I…?
and disagreement
– I think + that clause – Can I…?
– Do(n’t) you think +
– I suppose/ believe so – Let me…
complement clause?
– I suppose/believe + that clause – Do you mind + if clause?
– Do(n’t) you think so (too)?
– Do(n’t) you agree? weak • stating that permission is withheld
– NP + may – (Please) don’t (…)
• denying something – Perhaps – No
– No (+negative tag) – I’m not sure (+ that clause) – NP + must not…
– negative sentences with not, never, – I wonder
no (adjective), nobody, nothing

2
volitional
• expressing wants, desires
– I’d like…
– I want…
– May I have + NP (please)?
• enquiring about want, desire
– Would you like…?
– Do you want…
– What about…?
• expressing intention
– NP + be going to…
– NP + will/‘ll…
• enquiring about intention
– Are you going to…?
– Will you…?
• expressing preference
– I(‘d) prefer + NP
– I(‘d) like + NP
– I’d rather…(than…)
– I’d rather not (…)
emotional moral
• expressing pleasure/ liking • apologizing
– NP + be (very) nice – I am (very) sorry!
– NP + be (very) pleasant – Sorry!
– I like + NP (very much) – I am so sorry!
– I love…
• granting forgiveness
• expressing displeasure/ dislike – That’s all right
– NP + be + not (very) nice – It’s all right now
– NP + be + not (very) pleasant – It doesn’t matter (at all)
– I don’t like + NP (very much)
• expressing approval
– I hate…
– Good!
• enquiring about pleasure, liking, – That’s fine!
displeasure, dislike
• expressing appreciation
– Do(n’t) you like + NP?
– (It’s) very good/ nice
– Would you like…?
• expressing regret
• expressing hope
– What a pity!
– I hope + so
– It’s a (great) pity!
– I (do) hope + that clause
– I’m (so/very) sorry if…
• expressing satisfaction
• expressing indifference
– This/That is very good/nice
– It doesn’t matter
• expressing dissatisfaction – I don’t mind (+ if clause)
– I don’t like this/that
• enquiring about satisfaction
– Do you like this/that?
– Is this all right (now)?
• expressing disappointment
– What a pity!
– That’s a (great) pity!
• expressing gratitude
– Thank you (very much)
– That’s very kind of you
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The learner CAN get things done (suasion)

• suggesting a course of action • accepting an offer or invitation • warning others to take care or to
(including the speaker) – Thank you refrain from doing something
– Let’s… – Yes, please – Be careful!
– Shall we…? – That’ll be very nice – Look out!
– We could – All right – Don’t…
– What about…? – Mind…!
• declining an offer or invitation
• requesting others to do something – No, thank you • offering assistance
– Please, …please – I’m afraid I cannot – Can I…?
– Will/would/could you…? • requesting assistance
• enquiring whether an invitation or
– Would you mind…? – Can you… , please?
offer is accepted or declined
• inviting others to do something – Will you…?
– Would you like to…?
• advising others to do something
– What about…?
– You should…
– Why don’t you…

The learner CAN socialise

• attracting attention • addressing somebody • proposing a toast

– Excuse me – first name – Cheers!
– Hallo! – Mr/Mrs/Miss + family name – Here’s to…
• greeting people • introducing someone • taking leave
– Hallo! – This is… – Goodbye!
– Good morning/afternoon/evening – Goodnight
• reacting to being introduced
– I’ll see you (tomorrow,
• when meeting people – Hallo!
next week etc.)
– Hallo! – How do you do?
– How are you?
• congratulating someone
– (I’m fine, thank you,) how are you?
– Congratulations!
– How do you do?
– How do you do?

The learner CAN structure discourse

• opening • summing up letter

– see the exponents of attracting – So……. • opening
attention, greeting people and – Dear
• closing
addressing somebody above
– Well, goodbye/ goodnight • closing
• hesitating, looking for words – Well, its been nice talking with you – Yours sincerely
– ….Er…. – I’ll see you (later/soon/tomorrow) – Best wishes
– Just a moment – Love from…
– What’s the word for it?……. using the telephone
• opening (on lifting the handset)
• correcting oneself
– telephone number
– No
– Hallo (this is…)
– Sorry, ….
• asking for an extension
• enumerating
– I’d like to talk to…
– …and…and
– First…, then…, then… • giving notice of a new call
– I’ll call again (later/this afternoon)
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The learner CAN repair snags in communication

• signalling non-understanding • asking for clarification • expressing ignorance of an expression

– Sorry, I don’t/didn’t – (Sorry), what is X? – I don’t know how to say it
understand (that)
• asking for confirmation of • appealing for assistance
– (I beg your) pardon?
understanding – I don’t know the English word
• asking for overall repetition – Did you say X? – In [native language] we say…
– (Sorry) can you say that
• asking for a word to be spelt out • asking a speaker to slow down
again, please?
– Can you spell that, please? – Can you speak slowly, please?
– (I beg your) pardon?
• asking for something to be
• asking for partial repetition
written down
– (Sorry) when/where/why/
– Can you write that down for
how/who…?
me, please?

General Notions
General notions for Breakthrough with recommended exponents

existential • relative position • origin

• existence, non-existence prepositions – from
– There is… – against
• arrangement
– Is there..? – among
– after, before, between, first, last
– There’s no… – at, at the end of, behind, between,
– There isn’t any… in, in front of, in the centre of, next dimension
– to make; to become to, on, opposite • size
– under, with – size
• presence, absence
– (not) here, away, (not) there • distance – big, high, large
– near – long, low, short, small, tall
• availability, non-availability – far (away)(from)
– to have (got) • length
– … away – centimetre, foot, inch, kilometre,
– There is…
– Is there… • motion meter, yard, mile
– There’s no… verbs – long, short
– There isn’t any… – to come, to come along • pressure
– ready – to come to, to fall, to get up, to go – heavy, light
to hurry
• occurrence, non-occurrence – to leave, to lie down, to pass, to sit • weight
– to happen (down), to stand, to stop – gram(me)s, kilos, lbs., oz.
– heavy, light
spatial • direction
• location adverbs • volume
adverbs – away, back, down, in, out, – gallon, litre, pint
– here, there, nowhere, everywhere, (to the) left, (to the) right, straight • space
somewhere, (not) anywhere, where? on, up, east, north, south, west – big, small
– inside, outside, (in) the east/north/ – across
– down • temperature
south/west
– from, into, past, through, to up – temperature
– to have been to
verbs – degree
– this, that these, those
– to bring, to carry – zero
– to follow, to pull, to push – cold, hot, warm
– to put, to send, to take, to turn
5
Temporal • lateness • speed
• points of time – late – fast, slow
– (three) o’clock – miles/kilometres an hour
• anteriority
– (five) to/past (three) – present perfect • frequency
– a quarter to/past (three) – before + NP – always, never, (not) often, once
– (sixteen) minutes to/past (three) – before – sometimes, twice, usually
– half past (three) – already – daily, weekly, monthly
– (3) a.m./p.m. – yet – ….times a/per week/month etc.
– noon, midnight – on weekdays/Sundays etc.
• posteriority
• divisions of time – every week/ Sunday etc.
– after + NP
– moment, second, minute – afterwards • continuity
– quarter of an hour, half (an) hour, – later (on) – present continuous
hour,day, week – past continuous
– month, year, century • sequence
– present perfect
– spring, summer, autumn, winter – first, then
– morning, afternoon, evening, • intermittence
• simultaneity
night, weekend – not always
– at the same time
– holiday(s) • permanence
• future reference
– the names of the days of the week – always
– NP + be going to…
– names of the months
– NP + will • temporariness
• indications of time – soon – for + NP
– time – in – not always
– now, then, when?, soon, ago – next week/month/year/
• repetitiousness
– today, tomorrow, yesterday, the day Saturday, etc.
– again, many times, twice,
before yesterday, the day – tonight, tomorrow, the day after
several times
after tomorrow tomorrow, this afternoon
– this morning/afternoon/evening/ • uniqueness
• present reference
week/month/year, tonight, last/ – (only) once
– simple present
next + week/month/year – only one time
– present continuous
– names of the days of the week
– present perfect • commencement
– at, in, on
– now, today, still – to begin
– dates: (spoken) the first of June
– this morning/afternoon/year etc. – to start
– (written) 1 June 1989
– since + NP
– Christmas, Easter • past reference
– from
– simple past
• duration
– past continuous • cessation
– during
– yesterday, the day before yesterday, – to end
– for
just last week/month, etc. – to stop
– since
– till, to
– till, until • reference without time focus
– to take – simple present • stability
– long – to stay
• delay
– short – to wait
– late
• earliness – delay • change, transition
– early – delayed – to become
– suddenly…

6
quantitative • age • capacity/incapacity
• number – I am…(years old) – NP + can(not)…
– singular/plural – how old + be + NP?
• importance
– cardinal numbers up to four digits – new, old, young
– (not) important
– ordinal numbers up to two digits – adult, child; month, year
– another • abnormality
• physical condition and actions
– about – strange
– all right, dead, ill, well
• quantity – to break, to cut, to hurt, to die, • facility/difficulty
– all, a lot of, (not) any, enough, to repair – easy, difficult
(a) few, (a) little, many, more, most, • accessibility mental
much, no, some, half – to close, to open • reflection
– a bottle/cup/glass/piece + of – closed/open – to believe, to be sure, to be certain
• degree • cleanness – to hope, to know, to think, to wonder
– comparative and superlative of – to clean, to wash • expression
adjectives and adverbs in vocabulary – clean – to ask, to forbid
– enough, too…very, a little, much
• material – to say, to speak, to talk, to tell,
– almost, quite
nouns and adjectives to thank, to write
– rather
– gold, leather, nylon, plastic, noun
qualitative paper, silver – question
• physical nouns
relational
– wood, wool
• shape – made of wood, made of wool • spatial relations
– round, square
• fullness • temporal relations
• dimension – empty, full (of ) • action-event relations
– see dimension section above – to fill
• agency
• moisture, humidity
evaluative – agent as subject
– wet, dry
• value, price – agent in by adjunct (passive)
– to dry, to make wet
– How much + be…? • objective/ factitive
• visibility, sight – to be – objective as object
– NP + can(not) see + NP – price – object as subject of passive
– to look – cheap, expensive – factitive as object
– to look at
• quality – factitive as subject of passive
– light, dark
adjectives • dative
• audibility, hearing – bad, worse, worst; good, – dative as indirect object
– NP + can(not) hear + NP| better, best – dative in to adjunct
– to listen, to listen to – fine
– noise adverb • instrumental
– loud – well – instrumental in with adjunct
• taste • acceptability • benefactive
– nice – that’s all right/fine – benefactive in for adjunct
• texture • adequacy/inadequacy • place
– hard, soft, strong – NP + be all right • time
• colour – NP + be (not) enough
• manner, means
– blue, black, brown, green, grey, • desirability/undesirability – in this way, like this
orange, red, white, yellow – to like – badly, fast, hard
– light, dark
• correctness/incorrectness – how?, quickly, slowly, well
– better, right, wrong
– to be right, to be wrong
7
contrastive relations – of adjuncts, with adjuncts, – because + sub-clause
• equality/inequality without adjuncts
• effect
– (not) the same (thing) – to have (got), to get, to give,
– then…, so…
– different (from), else, other, another to keep
• reason
• correspondence, contrast in addition logical relations – Why?
to the exponents of equality/ • conjunction – because + sub-clause
inequality above – and, but, also, too
– like • purpose
– together
– comparative degree + than – to
– pair, group
• condition
possessive relations • disjunction
– if + sub-clause
• ownership, possession – or
– possessive adjectives (my, • focusing
• inclusion/exclusion
your, etc.) – about
– with, without
– possessive pronouns (mine, – only
– also, too
yours, etc.)
– genitive singular of personal nouns • cause
– Why?

deixis
• definite

non-anaphoric
personal pronouns, subject forms and object forms
possessive adjectives my, your, etc.
possessive pronouns as complement (as in: This is mine)
demonstrative adjectives and pronouns this, that, these, those, such
definite article the
interrogative pronouns who, what, which
interrogative adjectives whose, what which
anaphoric
personal pronouns (subject forms and object forms)
possessive adjectives
possessive pronouns as complement (as in: You take it, it’s yours)
demonstrative adjectives and pronouns
relative pronouns
definite article the
adverbs: here, there, now, then, so
propword one

• indefinite

indefinite article a, an
indefinite pronouns someone, (not) anyone, nobody, something, (not)…anything, nothing,
everything, all (as in: I want all of it), some (as in: some of them went
home), it (as in: it’s raining),
adverbs everywhere, (not)… anywhere, somewhere, nowhere, sometimes,
never, always
semi-deictics person (as in: there are five persons present
people (as in: there were many people present)
thing (as in: what do you call that thing?)
to do (as in: What are you going to do tonight?)

8
Themes and specific notions
The personal domain

personal identification
The learners CAN say who they are, spell their name, state their address, give their telephone number, say when and where they
were born, state their age, sex, say whether they are married or not, state their nationality, say where they are from, what they do
for a living, describe their family, state their religion, if any, state their likes and dislikes; elicit/understand similar information
from others.

• name • age • family

– name – family
• sex
– first name – father and mother
– man
– surname – husband
– woman
– Mr. – wife
– boy
– Mrs. – child
– girl
– Miss – son
– Ms. (writing) • marital status – daughter
– to write – (not) married – brother
– names of letters of the alphabet • nationality – sister
– to be – names of nationalities • religion
• address • origin – church
– to live – to be from… – name of one’s own religion, if any
– street, road, park, square
• occupation • likes and dislikes
– number
– country, town, village – names of occupations • personal appearance
– names of countries – names of places of work e.g. – tall
factory, farm, hospital, office – short
• telephone number – names of occupational activities – slim
– telephone e.g. to buy, to teach, to sell, to work – dark
– to phone – to work – fair
– telephone number
• education – good-looking
– 0 (as pronounced in telephone
numbers) – school
– university
• date and place of birth – student
– to be born – to study
– names of the months – to learn
– the required numerals – to go to (school, university)
– names of subjects

9
house, home and environment
Learners CAN describe a house or flat and the rooms in it, refer to furniture and bedclothes, services and amenities, describe
regions (particularly the one where they themselves live); obtain/understand similar descriptions and references from others;
exchange views on these matters.

• accommodation, rooms • services – hill

– house – electricity – lake
– flat – gas – valley
– room – heating – mountain
– names of rooms – telephone – canal
– floor – water – river
– stairs – on/off (e.g. the heating is on/off ) – sea
– downstairs – to turn on/ off – beach
– upstairs – island
• amenities
– lift
• flora and fauna
– window – bath
– animal
– door – shower
– names of animals
– garden – radio
– plant
– television
• furniture, bedclothes – tree
– garage
– furniture – flower
– names of pieces of furniture • region – grass
– blanket – farm
– pillow – factory
– sheet – fields
– forest

daily life
Learners CAN describe their daily routines, at home and at work; obtain/understand similar information from others; exchange
views on these matters.

• at home • at work
– to get up – to work
– to have breakfast etc. – working hours
– breakfast – holiday(s)
– lunch – to be free
– dinner – days off
– coffee – colleague
– tea – to earn
– to make – tax(es)
– to wash up
– to clean
– to go shopping
– to go to school
– to go to work
– to come home
– to go to sleep
– to go to bed

10
free time, entertainment
Learners CAN say when they are free and what they do in their spare time particularly with reference to hobbies and interests,
public entertainment, sports and reading; obtain/understand similar information from others; exchange views on these matters;
make use of entertainment facilities.

• leisure – programme • sports

– to be free – news – sport(s)
– holiday(s) – film – names of sports (e.g. baseball,
– to go out – music football, tennis, swimming)
– song – to play
• hobbies and interests
– to watch
– hobby • cinema/theatre
– to win
– names of hobbies, particularly – names of public performances e.g.
– to lose
one’s own film, opera, play, show
– against
– names of fields of interest, e.g. – to dance
the computers, films, music, sports – to sing • press
– to go for… – to play – newspaper
– ticket – magazine
• entertainment
– picture
– radio • intellectual pursuits
– advertisement
– to listen to (the radio) – to read
– television – to study
– to watch (TV) – to learn
– book

travel
Learners CAN use means of public transport, obtain tickets, refer to means of private transport, make use of the road traffic system,
refer to holiday trips, make use of accommodation facilities for travellers, refer to travel documents; talk about these matters and
activities with others.

• public transport • private transport – names of sights and buildings of

– to go – bicycle interest e.g., castle, cathedral,
– to travel by train, bus, etc. – car ruins, zoo
– journey – to drive – foreign
– plane – driver – names of countries
– airport – names of continents
• traffic
– bus
– street • accommodation
– coach
– road – names of types of accommodation
– bus stop
– motorway for travellers e.g., camping site,
– train
– bridge guest house, hotel, tent
– underground
– crossing – single room
– (railway) station
– to cross – double room
– platform
– corner – to book
– to change
– traffic lights – key
– tram
– common road-sign texts (reading – bill
– tram stop
only) e.g. cross now, exit, give way,
– boat • luggage
keep left, keep right, no parking,
– taxi – luggage
no waiting, one way, stop, turn left,
– ticket – bag
turn right
– single – suitcase
– return • holidays
• documents
– class – journey
– passport
– to smoke – tourist
– insurance
– luggage – to visit
– driving licence
– sights
11
relations with other people
Learners CAN refer to and establish personal relations, participate in social life and deal with correspondence. They CAN
understand simple information, e.g. on dates, names, places, addresses, wishes, etc. on postcards, greetings cards, invitations, etc.

• social life • correspondence

– friend – to write (to)
– colleague – letter
– acquaintance – envelope
– to know (a person) – postcard
– to make an appointment – paper
– to visit – stamp
– party – pen
– to talk – pencil
– to dance – ball point
– present – to send
– to get
– answer
– to answer

health and body care

All learners CAN refer to matters of personal comfort, stating whether they feel well, are hungry, tired, etc., refer to matters of
personal hygiene and obtain articles required, refer to matters of health and illness and describe what is wrong to a doctor or
entist, report accidents, refer to medical services and insurance: obtain/understand similar information and references from others.

• parts of the body • hygiene – to break

– names of parts of the body (e.g. – comb – to burn
arm, back, foot, hair, hand, head, – razor – to cut
heart, leg, neck, stomach, tooth) – soap
• medical services
– toothbrush
• personal comfort – hospital
– towel
– to feel well – dentist
– to wash
– to look well – doctor
– hungry • ailments, accidents – chemist
– thirsty – ill – medicine
– tired – to feel ill – appointment
– to sleep – pain – to see a doctor/dentist
– to wake up – to have a cold – glasses
– to hurt
• insurance
– accident
– insurance
– to fall

12
shopping
Learners CAN use shopping facilities, particularly obtaining foodstuffs, clothes and household articles, pay for things bought:
exchange information and views on these matters.

• shopping facilities • household articles

– shop – fork
– (to go) shopping – knife
– market – spoon
– supermarket – plate
– to pay (for…) – cup
– to buy – bottle
– to sell – glass
– to show
• prices
• foodstuffs – to pay
– money
• clothes, fashion
– £ (pound)
– clothes
– p (penny, pennies, pence)
– names of clothes (e.g. blouse,
– names of national currencies
coat, dress, hat, raincoat, shirt,
shoes, skirt)
– to try on
– to put on (clothes)
– to take off (clothes)
– watch

food and drink

Learners CAN refer to, buy and order various kinds of food and beverages, also in a restaurant, cafe, etc.; exchange information and
views on food, drink and places for eating and drinking.

• types of food and drink – egg – coffee

– food – omelette – tea
– to eat – soup – cream
– meal – cheese – milk
– snack – mustard – sugar
– to have breakfast/ coffee/ lunch/ – pepper – drink
tea/ dinner/ supper – salt – beer
– vegetable(s) – ice-cream – juice
– names of vegetables – fruit – water
– (to) boil(ed) – names of fruits – wine
– (to) fry(ied) – bread
• eating and drinking out
– (to) grill(ed) – butter
– restaurant
– (to) roast – piece - ‘Would you like a piece
– café
– salad of bread?’
– pub
– meat – slice
– menu
– names of kinds of meat – sandwich
– bill
– fish – jam
– chicken – to drink

13
services
The learners CAN refer to, inquire about and make use of postal services, telephone and telegraph, bank, police, medical services,
car maintenance services and petrol stations.

• post • hospital, surgery

– post office
• garage, breakdown services
• telephone – garage
– trouble
• telegraph
– engine
– telegram
– lights
• bank – brake
– bank – to help
– to change – to repair
– cheque – to work
– (to) cash
• petrol station
• police – petrol
– police – oil
– policeman – to check
– police station – tyres
– to steal – full
– to lose

places
Learners CAN ask the way and give strangers directions.

language
Learners CAN refer to foreign-language ability and deal with problems of understanding and expression.

• ability, understanding, expression – not at all

– to read – well
– to speak – dictionary
– to understand – question
– names of languages e.g. French, – clear
German, English, Spanish – to explain
– to write – mistake
– a little

weather
Learners CAN obtain relevant information from a weather forecast and exchange information and views on weather conditions.

• weather conditions – snow

– weather – to snow
– sun – ice
– rain – wind
– rainy – windy
– to rain – thunderstorm
– fog – fine

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