The Content-Form-Use Chart

(Bloom & Lahey, 1978; Lahey, 1988; modified by Masterson & Apel, 00)

Click on categories for general definitions.  Click on individual entries in each cell for explanations and examples. 

Single-verb categories are shown in green.

Multi-verb categories are shown in blue.

Coordinated categories are shown in red.

 

Phase

Existence

Nonexistence

Recurrence

Rejection

Denial

Attribution

Possession

Action

Locative Action

1

SW

SW

SW

SW

(SW)

(SW)

(SW)

(SW)

(SW)

2

Dem + N

Neg + N, N + Neg

R + N

  

  

Att + N or V

N or P +N

2 Constit.

2 Constit.

 

Locative State State Quantity

3

(+ Attrib)

  

  

  

  

(+ Exist)

3 Constit.

3 Constit.

2-3 Constit.

2-3 Constit.

(+s)

Numbers

Volition/Intent

Notice/Perception

Tense/Aspect

4

+ Recur

+ Possess

"a"

What Q

Neg + V, V + Neg

+ Exist

+ Action

 

 

+ Action

+ Exist

+Attrib

+Place

+Denial

+Recurr

-ing

Irreg Past

+ habitual s

+ Prep

Where Q

   

V - to + VP 

2-3 Constit.

-ing

Irreg Past

+Habit.s 

5

+ Cop

Who Q

 

(+ State)

+ Action

Neg

(+State)

+ possessive 's marker

+Action


+Loc Act

+Possess

+Rejection

Multiple-Coord

+ prep

+Possess

(+Denial)

-ing

 

(+Attrib)
(+Recurr)

Quan Words

V + to + VP

 

Reg Past

6

   

(+ Loc Act)

   

+ Loc Act

+ State

 

+Attrib

(+Recurr)

 

(+Poss.)

     

now

7

             

What or How Q

       

V - to + NP + VP

V - c + NP + VP

 

8

                       

V + to + NP + VP

V + c + NP + VP

(When Q)

(will)

 

 

Phase

Dem/Art

Dative

Additive

Temporal

Causal

5

Demonstrative 

Noun

VP + VP

     

Epistemic Single Verb

N + V

6

Article- the

+ prep

  

VP + VP

c = and

VP + VP

Objective

Specification

Epistemic

Adversative

Communication Single Verb

N + V

7

  

  

  

VP + VP

c = then,   when

VP + VP

Subjective

(Dem. + (Is) + C + VP)

c = what, where

V +/- C + NP + VP

VP + C + NP + VP

c= and, but

Communication

8

     

 

 

 

Noun-Modifying Clause 

   

VP + VP