Descriptive grammar of English 1 3223-2LGO1AE
The Course is designed to present the main aspects of descriptive grammar of English. One of the main goals of the Course is to make an overview of key features of contemporary English grammar system. Throughout the Course the students develop and acquire knowledge on the following topics: English morphology (including the paradigms of a verb, noun, adjective, adverb, etc.), syntax, typology of sentences, sentence structure analysis, the phenomenon of negation, etc.
Apart from getting to know the grammar system of contemporary English necessary to participate in other classes (e.g. linguistics, BA & MA seminars), the Course recognizes the importance of correct interpretation of grammatical phenomena necessary to understand texts in English and be able to translate them appropriately.
Course Workload:
The Course of descriptive grammar of English lasts two semesters, including:
30 hrs in-class work – 1 ECTS
25 hrs individual student’s work at home – 1 ECTS, including:
• 15 hrs preparation for tasks verifying the learning outcomes (home assignments)
• 10 hrs preparation for tests and exams
Range of topics:
1. Introduction to grammatical terminology
2. Basic concepts of English grammar
a. Word and lexeme
b. Syntactic structure analysis
c. Syntactic functions
d. Phrase, clause and sentence
e. Morphological processes
f. Elements of linguistic description
g. Descriptive and prescriptive grammar of English
3. Verbs and verb phrases
a. The verb paradigm
b. Structure of verb phrase
c. English tenses
d. Aspect, mood and voice in English
4. Sentence structure
a. Parts of sentence
b. Objects and their typology
c. Types of sentences
d. Adjuncts and their typology
5. Nouns and noun phrases
a. The noun paradigm
b. Number and countability
c. Complements
d. Pronouns and their typology
6. Adjectives, adjective phrase and adverbs
a. Distinctive properties of adjectives and adverbs
b. Structure of adjective/adverb phrase
c. Functions of adjectives and adverbs
7. Prepositions and preposition phrase
a. Traditional typology of prepositions
b. Structure of preposition phrase
8. Negation and related phenomena
a. Scope of negation
b. Negation typology
9. Clause type
a. Clause types and speech acts
b. Clause structure
c. Sentence classification
10. Subordination and coordination
a. Classification of subordinate and coordinate clauses
b. Types of subordinators and coordinators
11. Relative clauses
a. Typology of relative clauses
12. Grade and comparison
13. Non-finite clauses and clauses without verbs
14. Morphology: words and lexemes
Type of course
Mode
Prerequisites (description)
Learning outcomes
After completing the Course the student:
Knowledge:
• has basic knowledge of the subject and methodological specificity within the field of linguistics; is able to state the place of linguistics within the system of scientific disciplines; has basic knowledge of English morphology, syntax and semantics (S_W01; K_W01)
• knows and understands the basic aspects of research methodology of linguistics, esp. within the field of descriptive grammar (S_W04; K_W03)
• knows and understands the terminology used in the descriptive grammar of contemporary English (S_W05; K_W02)
• has advanced knowledge of English (at least C1 according to CEFR); knows derivational and inflectional systems of contemporary English; has good command of basics of English grammar (S_W06; K_W09)
• knows the basic linguistic and grammatical terminology, theories and methodology of English (S_W08; K_W04; K_W07)
Skills:
• is able to apply basic research skills within the field of descriptive grammar of English; is able to select appropriate methods and research tools allowing to find solutions for complex problems in applied linguistics (K_U02; H1A_U02)
• is able to acquire and use theoretical knowledge of English syntax, morphology, semantics, phonetics and phonology (K_U04; H1A_U04)
• is able to search, analyse, evaluate and solve certain problems related to applied linguistics including the following scientific disciplines: phonetics, syntax, morphematics and word formation
(S_U06; K_U04)
Socio-cultural competencies:
• is able to interact and work in groups/in pairs, taking different roles in them; is able to manage a small team, taking the responsibility for the results of the team work (K_K01, K_K02);
• is able to properly define the priorities for the implementation of a task set by themselves and/or others; is able to manage the time appropriately and accomplish the tasks by the given deadline (K_K03, S_K03, S_K04)
• is able to broaden the knowledge acquired during the Course of descriptive grammar of English; is conscious of the need to regularly search for new sources of information (texts, articles, dictionaries, etc.) (S_K05; K_K06)
Assessment criteria
No. Assessment criteria Percentage of points in the final grade
1. Midterm written tests 50%
2. Final oral exam 50%
Assessment criteria:
1. The final grade comprises:
- 50% is the average of all four midterm written tests (2 tests during the winter term and 2 tests during the summer term)
- 50% is the note obtained from the final oral exam scheduled at the end of the summer term that involves the range of topics from the whole Course.
2. In order to be able to take the final exam every student needs to obtain positive notes from all four midterm written tests. Every student is entitled to retake a failed midterm test twice.
3. The tests’ and final exam’s results are established in accordance with the following scale:
60%-69,9% = 3
70%-74,9% = 3+
75%-84,9% = 4
85%-89,9% = 4+
90%-100% = 5
4. The final grade comprises the average of two notes: one being the note from the final exam, and one being the average note from all four midterm tests. The overall result is established in accordance with the following scale:
3–3,24 = 3
3,25–3,74 = 3+
3,75–4,24 = 4
4,25–4,74 = 4+
4,75–5,0 = 5
Bibliography
• Biber D., Conrad S., Leech G., 2002, Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English, London: Longman.
• Downing A., Locke Ph., 2006, English Grammar. A University Course London: Routledge.
• Fromkin, V., Rodman, R., 1993, An Introduction to Language, Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.
• Greenbaum S., Quirk R., 1990, A Student's Grammar of the English Language, Harlow: Longman.
• Huddleston R., 1984, Introduction to the Grammar of English, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Huddleston R., 1988, English Grammar - an Outline, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., 1989, A University Grammar of English, Harlow: Longman.
• Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., 1990, A Student’s Grammar of the English Language, Harlow: Longman.
• Swan, M., 2005, Practical English Usage, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Twardzisz, P., 2010, Patterns of English Word-Formation, Warszawa: Katedra Języków Specjalistycznych Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego.
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: