分类法也是帮助说明解释的基本方法之一，它的功用在于把拥有某种相同特点的事物归成同一类。

　　分类时必须注意是否有系统，是否完整。有系统的分类是指分类的基础是否统一，是否有重复的现象。譬如写一篇讨论台湾水果种类的文章，作者必须先决定是以季节来分类，还是以价钱，以品种，以味道来分。所谓完整是指分类是否有遗漏。

　　<范文> Tea

　　Tea is the leaf of a small evergreen(l) tree which is planted in China and Japan and in some parts of India. The tea plant has smooth green leaves and white flowers.

　　At certain times of the year the young leaves(2) are picked. They are then made dry, rolled between the bands(3), and put in boxes.

　　Two sorts of tea are sent abroad--black and green. The different color is caused by the different ways of drying the leaf. For black tea(4) the leaves are put out in the open air for some time before they are cooked, and they are then made dry slowly over a fire. For green tea the leaves are made dry quickly, only a short time after they are picked off(5) the plant.

　　语汇说明

　　本文是对外销的茶叶作—简单的分类说明。

　　(1)evergreen：常青；常绿

　　(2)the young leaves：嫩叶

　　(3)rolled between the hands用手搓揉

　　(4)black tea：红茶

　　(5)Pick off：摘下来