英语中一些最实用、最基本的语言功能恰巧也是TSE测试时常考到的。真正熟练地掌握并运用这些语言功能对学好英语口语是十分重要的。这些常见的语言功能包括：指路、说服、道歉、描述、推荐、建议、邀请、抱怨、请求、劝告、解释和说明等。

　　如何掌握一种特定的语言功能包括四个步骤：

　　1.掌握语汇和句型。

　　2.思路(受文化、习俗、逻辑思维、文化价值观、生活环境等的限制和影响)

　　3.范文

　　4.练习

　　举例：抱怨的语汇和句型

　　1.I’m afraid…

　　2.I’m sorry, but..

　　3.I’m afraid I have a complain to make, you see…

　　4.I hate to complain, but

　　5.I am sorry to have to say this, but…

　　6.I wonder if you could help me…

　　7.I’ve got a bit of problem here, you see…

　　8.Look, I’m sorry to trouble you , but…

　　9.There seems be something wrong with…

　　Slightly informal (很好的朋友之间才这么说)

　　1.Will you please (stop doing)…

　　2.Why don’t you…

　　3.Must you always…?

　　Rather formal

　　1.I didn’t want to bring this up, but…

　　2.I didn’t want to mention this, but…

　　练习

　　1. You and I are in a movie theater, and the person in front of you is wearing a very large hat. Complain to the person about this.

　　E.g. Excuse me, madam, look, I have a little problem here. You see, the hat you are wearing is very nice , but it is　too large. I simply can’t see anything, and I think people around me have the same problem. I am just wondering if you can take off the hat.

　　2. Your boss has given you a hard time all week. You have worked overtime every week for the past two months, including weekend. You don’t have time to sleep or have fun anymore. Complain to your boss about this. (杜子华)