Is there a word/term for..

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0a word that doesn't have a meaning when standing alone but exist to assist other words such as Be-verbs (is, are...) or modals (can, will must.....) etc. and its meaning is little to zero that if it's taken out of a sentence, the message of the sentence is still intact, for instance:02br02br00"Who you talking to?" in which "are" is omitted, but the meaning is as clear as spring water.02br02br00Thanks02br02br00Raen0-

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

0 I'm not aware of any word or term that is used for such omitted elements.02br
00CJ 0-

Raen · Answer

0No? Thanks CalifJim.02br
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00 I wonder if I can say this and be understood:02br
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00"Be-verbs" and modals are syntactic words that function to assist others that are semantic?02br
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00Is it incomprehensible? Any thoughts and opinions are welcom.02br
02br
00Raen0-

Raen · Answer

0After rereading my opening post, I realized the sentence structure was misleading and the message could be ambiguous and confusing. I'll reword it here see if it's clear. 01blockquote

01cite10Raen12cite12br
10a word, such as Be-verbs (is, are...) or modals (can, will must.....) etc., that doesn't have a meaning when standing alone but exist to assist other words and its meaning is little to zero that if it's taken out of a sentence, the message of the sentence is still intact, for instance:12br
12br
10"Who you talking to?" in which "are" is omitted, but the meaning is as clear as spring water.12br
12br
12blockquote

10Hope this would give others better idea of what I was trying to say. Thanks.02br
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00Raen0-

CalifJim · Answer

0 There is a division between content words and function words, but I don't think that's what you mean, because the prepositions, for example, are typically function words, and they cannot be omitted in the way you're talking about.02br
02br
00CJ 0-

Raen · Answer

0I think these terms "content" vs "function" would just be sufficient, Thank you CJ. Yes, I forgot about prepositions, the sentence I gave didn't apply to them, did it? But content/function provide the distiction I was looking for. Thank you.02br
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00By the way, would "syntax words" and "semantic words" do the same trick too? Or they don't quite make sense? What's your opinion? Thanks ahead.02br
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00Raen0-

CalifJim · Answer

0 01blockquote

01cite10Raen12cite10"syntax words" and "semantic words"12blockquote

10 I think I can see what you're saying, but I don't think that serious linguists would use that terminology. All words participate in both syntax and semantics.02br
00CJ 0-

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