Final answer:
The main function of carbohydrates in the body is to provide fast energy by being broken down into glucose which is then converted to ATP, the cell's primary energy source.
Step-by-step explanation:
One function of carbohydrates is fast energy. Carbohydrates include sugars and starches, which are composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The basic monomer of carbohydrates is the monosaccharide, such as glucose, which when broken down in the body, provides energy in the form of ATP through metabolic pathways.
ATP is essential for various cellular functions. While carbohydrates can participate in forming structures like the cell walls in plants and membranes in cells through glycoproteins and glycolipids, their primary role in animals is to provide a fast source of energy.