PdF:AJ2203 Grammar A - Course Information

AJ2203 Grammar A

Extent and Intensity

0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Taught in person.

Teacher(s)

Mgr. Renata Jančaříková, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)

Guaranteed by

Mgr. Renata Jančaříková, Ph.D.
Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education
Contact Person: Jana Popelková
Supplier department: Department of English Language and Literature – Faculty of Education

Timetable of Seminar Groups

AJ2203/01: Thu 23. 9. to Thu 16. 12. Thu 8:00–9:50 učebna 33, R. Jančaříková
AJ2203/02: Wed 22. 9. to Wed 15. 12. Wed 8:00–9:50 učebna 56, R. Jančaříková
AJ2203/03: Mon 20. 9. to Mon 13. 12. Mon 14:00–15:50 učebna 54, R. Jančaříková
AJ2203/05: Thu 23. 9. to Thu 16. 12. Thu 14:00–15:50 učebna 19a, R. Jančaříková
AJ2203/06: Mon 20. 9. to Mon 13. 12. Mon 8:00–9:50 učebna 53, R. Jančaříková

Prerequisites

B2 level and higher.

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 7 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

The course 'Grammar A' is designed for the 1st year students and as such it summarises and develops the students' knowledge of English grammar. The entry level is expected to be at least B2. As it is the first grammar course in the programme, the aim is also to help students adapt to a university style of teaching.
The main objective of the course is to consolidate and further develop the students' knowledge of grammar by presenting grammar as a system whose elements are interconnected and influence each other. Grammar is studied as a complex whole with focus on functions and meanings and mutual comparison of grammar features that help students understand the grammar system as such. The course also includes basic linguistic terminology, the knowledge of which is essential for the students' independent work with the course materials and recommended sources as well as their future studies (courses in English syntax mainly). Students will be able to (SWBAT) compare sentences in terms of grammar and meaning, as well as compare Czech and English grammar where such comparison is noteworthy; SWBAT correct mistakes in sentences and explain their corrections; SWBAT provide explanations and examples of their own to illustrate the grammar points discussed; SWBAT analyze stretches of language and justify choices of structures, tenses, articles, etc., and identify the speaker's attitudes and intentions.
The course is based on 'A Student's Grammar of the English Language' by Sidney Greenbaum and Randolph Quirk as the main study material. Chapters discussed include: A general framework, Verbs and auxiliaries and The Semantics of the verb phrase, i.e. Chapters 2,3,4.

Learning outcomes

Students will be able to: - analyse a simple sentence (function vs. form, i.e. sentence elements vs. phrases);
- distinguish between types of verb (transitive, intransitive, linking) and use them in sentences to show understanding of the individual types and their complementation;
- understand the difference between finite and non-finite forms and clauses and use them in context and supply their own examples;
- use English tenses in context and understand differences between tenses, i.e. simple vs. continuous, perfect tenses;
- idenify and explain the verbal categories of tense, voice and mood and aspect, with focus on the differences in form and meaning;

Syllabus

• 1. Basic syntactic terminology: sentence and sentence structure; sentence elements; types of phrase (e.g. noun phrase and verb phrase); types of verbs (transitive, intransitive, linking); sentence v. clause; simple vs. multiple sentence
• 2.Basic linguistic terminology (general): markedness; types of reference (generic vs. specific); open v. closes word classes (including new words in English; pro-forms; ellipsis
• 3. Main verbs - finite vs. non-finite forms, verb phrases and clauses; spelling changes; irregular verbs; verb phrase structure
• 4. Primary auxiliaries - be, do and have, and their uses and functions; have sth done
• 5. Modal auxiliaries - marginal modal auxiliaries (dare, need, used to, would for past habits); modal idioms; semi-auxiliaries (modality in detail is covered in syntax courses)
• 6. Passive - structure and meaning, comparison with the passive in Czech; reasons for using the passive; agent
• 7. Reported speech - sequence of tenses, reporting verbs, reported questions, word order
• 8. Present tenses - present simple vs. present continuous; tense vs. time (present tense with past reference)
• 9. Past tenses - past simple vs. past continuous; used to vs. would
• 10. Perfect tenses - present perf. simple and cont.; past perfect simple and cont. and comparison with past tenses
• 11. Expressing future - structures used to express the future in English

Literature

required literature
• QUIRK, Randolph and Sidney GREENBAUM. A Student s Grammar of the English Language. 1. vyd. London: Longman, 1990, 490 s. ISBN 0-582-07569-6. info
• CHALKER, Sylvia. A student's English grammar : workbook. First published. Harlow: Longman, 1992, 186 stran. ISBN 0582088194. info

recommended literature
• ALEXANDER, L. G. Longman English grammar. Edited by R. A. Close. London: Longman, 1988, x, 374. ISBN 0582558921. info
• DUŠKOVÁ, Libuše. Mluvnice současné angličtiny na pozadí češtiny. 3. vyd. Praha: Academia, 2003, 673 s. ISBN 8020010734. info
• MURPHY, Raymond. Essential grammar in use : a self-study reference and practice book for intermediate students : with answers. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003, x, 350. ISBN 052143680X. info
• YULE, George. Oxford practice grammar : with answer. First published. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006, ix, 280. ISBN 9780194579827. info
• YULE, George. Oxford practice grammar : supplementary exercises with answers. First published. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009, v, 132. ISBN 9780194579872. info
• PRODROMOU, Luke. Grammar and vocabulary for first certificate. Harlow: Longman, 1999, 319 s. ISBN 0-582-40018-X. info
• SIDE, Richard and Guy WELLMAN. Grammar and vocabulary for Cambridge advanced and proficiency : fully updated for the revised CPE. Harlow: Longman, 2002, 288 s. ISBN 0582518210. info
• SWAN, Michael. Practical English usage. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991, Nestr. ISBN 0194274039. info
• SPARLING, Don. English or Czenglish? : jak se vyhnout čechismům v angličtině. 1. vyd. Praha: Státní pedagogické nakladatelství, 1989, 274 s. info
• HEWINGS, Martin. Advanced grammar in use with answers : a self-study reference and practice book for advanced learners of English. 1st pub. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999, ix, 340. ISBN 0521498694. info
• POVOLNÁ, Renata. Grammar. 1. dotisk 1. vydání. Brno: Masarykova univerzita v Brně, 2002, 99 stran. ISBN 8021023112. info

Teaching methods

homework, self-study, class discussions, pair work, group work, online forums

Assessment methods

Requirements:
1. ATTENDANCE - compulsory, 80% required (if we have to go online in the future, remember that this applies to online classes as well)
2. HOMEWORK/ SELF-STUDY/ CLASS PARTICIPATION- the work in class is based on the materials that the students studied before the seminars
3. ONLINE QUIZZES in the Moodle course (11 quizzes)- see the moodle course for the deadlines
4. 2 PROGRESS TESTS - Topics 1-4; Topics 5-9 (dates can be found in the Moodle course)
5. FINAL TEST in the exam period (pass 70%)
Students are required to work regularly in the moodle course using the materials provided there and other study materials, i.e. SGEL by Greenbaum and Quirk and Workbook by S. Chalker (see the file Books / Resources in the moodle course).
Methods of assessment: progress tests, online quizzes, final test, online discussions
FOR MORE INFO AND DETAILS OF CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT, SEE THE MOODLE COURSE.

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.

Listed among pre-requisites of other courses

• AJ2204 Grammar B
  AJ2203  

Teacher's information

https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=2774

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2021, recent)
  
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