AJL12054 Introduction to Syntax

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Dominika Beneš Kováčová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Dominika Beneš Kováčová, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable of Seminar Groups
AJL12054/01: Wed 12:00–13:40 G31, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11., D. Beneš Kováčová
AJL12054/02: No timetable has been entered into IS. D. Beneš Kováčová
Prerequisites (in Czech)
AJL01002 Practical English II
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 14/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The goal of the course is to provide students with an understanding of the syntactic structure of English. The course introduces basic syntactic concepts and phenomena as well as relevant terminology that make it possible to describe, classify and analyse English syntax.
Learning outcomes
After completing this course, students will be able to:
- define and explain relevant linguistic and syntactic terminology;
- identify and classify elements of English sentence structure;
- explain, analyse and construct features of English sentence structure.
Syllabus
1. Syntax, prescriptive vs descriptive grammar, parts of speech 2. Basic linguistic relations: thematic roles, grammatical relations 3. Phrase, clause, sentence, representing phrase structure 4. Simple sentence, word order, structural variations of the simple sentence 5. Negation 6. Sentence types and their discourse functions 7. Mid-term test, revision 8. Multiple sentence, representing sentence structure 9. Non-finite and verbless clauses 10. Wish clauses, subjunctive 11. Cleft and pseudo-cleft constructions 12. Fronting, inversion, extraposition, existential constructions 13. Conclusion
Literature
  • Fenn, P., & Schwab, G. (2018). Introducing English syntax: A basic guide for students of English. Routledge.
  • Burton-Roberts, N. (2016). Analysing sentence: An introduction to English syntax (4th ed.). Routledge.
  • Nelson, G., & Greenbaum, S. (2018). An introduction to English grammar (4th ed.). Routledge.
  • Downing, A. (2015). English grammar: A university course (3rd ed.). Routledge.
  • Verspoor, M., & Sauter, K. (2000). English sentence analysis: An introductory course. John Benjamins.
  • DUŠKOVÁ, Libuše. Syntax současné angličtiny : sbírka textů a příkladů k syntaktickému rozboru. Vydání třetí. Praha: Univerzita Karlova v Praze, nakladatelství Karolinum, 2013, 141 stran. ISBN 9788024622699. info
Teaching methods
seminars, class discussion, text analysis, assignments
Assessment methods
Coursework, assignments (20%)
Mid-term exam (30%)
Final exam (50%)
Students must prove knowledge of the concepts and terminology covered in the course and be able to analyse relevant syntactic structures and phenomena. Students are expected to meet all requirements (attendance, etc.) in harmony with the study regulations. Students are also expected to complete assigned readings and assignments during the course and before class.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2025/AJL12054