This list of function words includes 320 word types and 161 word families. Most of the words occur in the most frequent 2,000 words of English and these are unmarked in the following list. The words in bold type are in the Academic Word List (Coxhead, 2000), and the words in italics are mid-frequency words (except for the low-frequency words thrice and whither) which are not in the General Service List (West, 1953) or the Academic Word List.

again ago almost already also always anywhere back else even ever everywhere far hence here hither how however near nearby nearly never not now nowhere often only quite rather sometimes somewhere soon still then thence there therefore thither thus today tomorrow too underneath very when whence where whither why yes yesterday yet

Auxiliary verbs (including contractions)

am are aren't be been being can can't could couldn't did didn't do does doesn't doing done don't get gets getting got had hadn't has hasn't have haven't having he'd he'll he's I'd I'll I'm is isn't it's I've may might must mustn't ought oughtn't shall shan't she'd she'll she's should shouldn't that's they'd they'll they're was wasn't we'd we'll were we're weren't we've will won't would wouldn't you'd you'll you're you've

Prepositions/conjunctions (one category since there is some overlap)

about above after along although among and around as at before below beneath beside between beyond but by down during except for from if in into near nor of off on or out over round since so than that though through till to towards under unless until up whereas while with within without […]