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English language functions by CEFR level

Language functions are the things we do with English: greeting and thanking, describing and explaining, giving an opinion, asking for something, keeping a conversation going. Below is what a learner can do at each CEFR level, A1 to C2. Lessons and practice follow the vocabulary series.

Social & Interpersonal

CEFR A1: Introduces self/others; greets; asks how people are; thanks; apologises simply.
CEFR A2: Makes and responds to invitations, suggestions and apologies; expresses likes/dislikes and feelings simply.
CEFR B1: Maintains informal social exchanges; expresses and responds to feelings (surprise, sympathy, happiness).
CEFR B2: Adapts register to formal/informal contexts; handles social conventions including tactful refusal.
CEFR C1: Uses language flexibly for social purposes including emotional, allusive and joking usage.
CEFR C2: Has full sociolinguistic and sociocultural command; mediates across cultures and registers.

Informational: Describing, Narrating, Explaining

CEFR A1: Describes people, places and things simply; asks and answers about personal information.
CEFR A2: Describes past events, routines, plans and places; gives simple directions and sequences.
CEFR B1: Narrates experiences and stories; describes feelings and reactions; explains problems and reasons; summarises simple information.
CEFR B2: Gives clear detailed descriptions and explanations on a wide range of topics; reports and summarises complex information.
CEFR C1: Gives clear detailed descriptions of complex subjects, integrating sub-themes and rounding off with a conclusion.
CEFR C2: Presents and explains complex information clearly, fluently and in a style appropriate to context and audience.

Evaluative & Persuasive: Opinions, Agreement, Argument

CEFR A1: Expresses likes, dislikes and simple preferences.
CEFR A2: Gives simple opinions and agrees/disagrees in a simple way, with basic reasons.
CEFR B1: Gives and justifies opinions; compares and contrasts alternatives; agrees and disagrees politely.
CEFR B2: Develops a clear argument with supporting points; evaluates advantages and disadvantages; speculates.
CEFR C1: Argues persuasively and precisely; qualifies opinions and statements with degrees of certainty; handles counter-arguments.
CEFR C2: Presents complex reasoned argument convincingly with fine shades of stance and rhetorical skill.

Transactional & Regulatory: Requests, Instructions, Suggestions

CEFR A1: Asks for and gives things; buys simple items; asks prices; understands simple instructions.
CEFR A2: Makes polite requests, offers and suggestions; asks for/gives directions; orders food; makes arrangements.
CEFR B1: Handles less routine transactions: complaints, problems, booking changes; gives detailed instructions and advice.
CEFR B2: Negotiates, persuades and resolves conflicts; makes formal requests and proposals.
CEFR C1: Conducts complex negotiations and professional transactions diplomatically and strategically.
CEFR C2: Manages high-stakes transactions and mediation with full pragmatic control.

Discourse & Interaction Management

CEFR A1: Asks for repetition and slower speech; uses and/then to link.
CEFR A2: Starts, maintains and closes simple face-to-face conversations; links with basic connectors.
CEFR B1: Keeps conversations going; checks understanding; links ideas into connected sequences using a range of connectors.
CEFR B2: Uses a variety of linking words and cohesive devices; intervenes appropriately; manages turns and topic shifts.
CEFR C1: Produces clear, smooth, well-structured discourse with controlled use of organisational patterns and cohesive devices.
CEFR C2: Creates coherent, cohesive discourse using a full range of organisational patterns; backtracks and restructures smoothly.

Not sure of your level? Take the free adaptive level test, read what the CEFR levels mean, or start with vocabulary video lessons.