同时，语篇功能满足了使实际应用中的语言前后相关联的要求，使实际的上下文具备一定的结构，从而使实际的篇章区别于语法或者词典中一个个孤立的条目。它提供了一系列潜在的可用的意义，使语言结构的组成成为可能。
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An example
◆（1）John saw a handbag in a field. John walked across a field and picked up a
handbag. John took a handbag to the police station and John handed in a handbag as lost property. When John handed a handbag as lost property, John went home.
（2）John saw a handbag in a field. He walked across the field and picked up the handbag. He took the handbag to the police station and handed it in as lost property. When he had done this， he went home.
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◆后者读起来比前者更像统一连贯的语篇。这两组句子在概念成分和人际成分方面颇为相似，在语篇成分上却有着区别。前者忽略了某些成分重复出现的事实，将它们一概视作首次出现的成分。后者则使用定冠词代替那些已经出现过的名词前面的不定冠词，用\和\替换其
他的一些名词，用\替换短语。诸如此类的连接成分一起被当作衔接语篇的组成部分。
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韩礼德认为，句子是概念意义、人际意义和语篇意义同步体现的产物。例如：
概念意义ideational 物质过程material 人际意义
interpersonal 陈述
declarative
语篇意义textual 无标记主位unmarked theme
This house
目标goal: 受影响者
Was built
By John Smith
参与者participant:有生命的
过程process: 物质material
语气mood
主语subject
限定成分finite
剩余成分residue 谓语predicator
附加语adjunct
主位theme 述位rheme
已知信息given
新信息new
Metafunctional Layering
英语语言学概论韩礼德三大语法功能刘盼小组
