Which term describes lexical chunks that have slots for insertion of different words, used to express requests or instructions?

• A. Fixed Expression
• B. Semi-Fixed Expression
• C. Collocation
• D. Word

Answer: (B)

These are templates in language: a chunk that has a fixed frame with slots you can fill in to create a specific request or instruction. The idea is that you start with a set phrase that signals politeness or direction, then insert different words or verb phrases into the blank to tailor the message to the situation. This makes the expression versatile yet recognizable.

For example, a frame like “Would you mind _____?” can take various actions in the blank, such as “opening the window,” “passing me the salt,” or “giving me a moment.” The surrounding words stay the same while the inserted content changes, which is exactly what a semi-fixed expression is designed to do. It’s more flexible than a fully fixed expression, which wouldn’t allow substituting the inner content, and it’s different from a collocation, which is just a common word pairing without a formal slot-filled structure. A single word isn’t a multiword template, so it wouldn’t capture the idea of a flexible, slot-ready phrase used for requests or instructions.