100 Examples of Referential function

The referential function , also called representative or informative, is one of the six functions of language and is used to convey concrete information about objective reality: people, facts, events, actions, states, objects, among others. For example: The capital of France is Paris .

This function focuses on the referent (the topic being discussed) and the context (the situation in which the communication takes place). It is characterized by the message being transmitted in a manner that tends toward objectivity, that is, without judgments from the sender and without seeking a particular reaction from the listener. It can refer to the past, present, or future. For example:The Biology exam is next Thursday.

The referential function usually prevails in messages whose content is verifiable, which is why it is the most commonly used in informative , journalistic , scientific , educational, or popular texts . However, it can also appear in literary fiction or essays , combined with other language functions. It is also widely used in everyday life. For example:I’ll be arriving later than usual today.

Remember :The referential function is the primary function of language, as it can refer to anything and is present in every communicative act, even when another function predominates in a message. For example, if someone uses the emotive function to convey their admiration for the beauty of a painting, it is expected that they will also communicate some kind of objective information about its characteristics.

• You may find this useful: Expository text

Linguistic resources of the referential function

When the referential function of language is prioritized, some characteristic linguistic resources are used: 

• Denotation . Words are often used in their denotative sense, that is, their primary meaning, since the goal is to convey a specific, objective message. For example:The new president of Mexico is from a left-wing party.
• Deictics . These words take on their meaning depending on the context ( pronouns , adverbials, and other determiners). For example:Yesterday I brought my suitcase and left it there.
• Nouns and verbs . These word classes facilitate the transmission of information objectively, without qualifications from the speaker. For example:The house is for sale.
• Declarative sentences . These sentences, both affirmative and negative , allow us to communicate something concrete about reality without expressing any particular assessments on the part of the speaker. For example:The team finished last in the championship.
• Indicative mood . This mood is used to express objective facts or ideas for informational purposes. For example:The show starts at 8 p.m.
• Third person . This grammatical person, both singular and plural, is generally used to conjugate verbs, since this function focuses on elements external to the communicative situation. For example:The dog barked all night.

Examples of the referential function

1. The team’s arrival in Venezuela will take place on Sunday night.
2. The young man is 19 years old.
3. The work will be ready by next Monday.
4. The window broke, but no one saw what happened.
5. The birth was not scheduled for today.
6. The bread is in the oven.
7. The media described the event as massive.
8. The fault cannot be fixed.
9. Three days later, he discovered that the mistake had been his.
10. The prices in this store are 10% more expensive than ours.
11. The young woman’s father had fallen ill.
12. He has been sleeping for three hours.
13. The coffee is ready.
14. The dogs barked all night long.
15. This is the tallest tree in the reserve.
16. The box is empty.
17. Those fish became extinct.
18. The man asked him why he hadn’t called him.
19. There are five options to choose from.
20. His brothers did not find out what had happened.
21. The island is 240 kilometers long.
22. They are my cousins.
23. The plane is about to take off.
24. The capital of Uruguay is Montevideo.
25. The food is not enough for all the hotel guests.
26. The celebration continued until 11 p.m.
27. Two years had passed when they saw him again.
28. The phone didn’t ring all morning.
29. She dyed her hair blonde.
30. The prestigious dressmaker designed the dress for the wedding.
31. Isaac Newton died in 1727.
32. The judge will announce the sentence this afternoon.
33. The children were playing on the terrace.
34. This is the most expensive project of all.
35. The store opens in an hour.
36. As soon as he entered the house, food was prepared.
37. This car model was the best-selling in the entire country.
38. This year I visited three different cities.
39. Breakfast is served on the ground floor of the hotel.
40. The boss will return today at five in the afternoon.
41. Someone rang the doorbell and then ran out.
42. There is no one left in the house.
43. The armchair has grease stains.
44. The locals came out to enjoy the sun.
45. The disinfectant smell will dissipate in a few hours.
46. He called him five minutes before seven in the evening.
47. A dog was sleeping by the door.
48. The film premiered on Thursday.
49. We are at the highest point of the mountain.
50. There are alternative routes that lead to the same place.
51. They painted the closet white.
52. The witnesses stated that they knew nothing about the matter.
53. Orange trees are the most common trees in this area.
54. He said he needed another pair of shoes.
55. The door is open.
56. Before I go shopping, I’m going to finish cleaning the house.
57. There are no more shirts in that size.
58. Dinner will be served at nine o’clock sharp.
59. The whole family has gathered in the garden.
60. I’ll be twenty minutes late.
61. Juan studied Economics at this university.
62. The wedding is next Saturday.
63. The board is made up of five people.
64. The train always arrives on time.
65. Neurons are part of the nervous system.
66. That dress has a discounted price.
67. He didn’t remember his name.
68. All exercises were solved correctly.
69. We agree with the decision taken.
70. On that corner is the clothing store.
71. Philip III was king of Spain.
72. The capital of Peru is Lima.
73. The furniture was all broken.
74. One hundred and five people surveyed said they were very moved by the event.
75. This room measures thirty square meters.
76. Jamaica is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea.
77. This chocolate does not contain sugar.
78. The results of the presidential election were announced.
79. This is the nearest police station.
80. The teacher paid no attention to the students.
81. That was his first professional match.
82. It won’t rain for another two weeks.
83. Nobody knows us in this town.
84. The sun rises at six in the morning.
85. There was nothing left to eat in the kitchen.
86. The suspect denied all accusations.
87. He told me that he liked theater and painting.
88. At the club, no one admitted to knowing him.
89. His house has a garden.
90. We are 20 kilometers away.
91. Behind the kitchen, there is a patio.
92. This is the second street we cross.
93. The temperature dropped three degrees since morning.
94. The car is five years old.
95. Ten people saw him leave work after hours.
96. There is half an hour left to finish the exam.
97. You can choose the color you prefer.
98. The pencil is broken.
99. There are no free seats left.
100. The songs are his own.