AJ2205 Syntax A

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Martin Adam, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
doc. PhDr. Renata Povolná, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Renata Povolná, 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
AJ2205/01: Tue 10:00–11:50 učebna 12, R. Povolná
AJ2205/02: Mon 14:00–15:50 učebna 57, M. Adam
AJ2205/03: Tue 8:00–9:50 učebna 51, M. Adam
AJ2205/04: Thu 8:00–9:50 učebna 54, M. Adam
Prerequisites
AJ2102 Practical Language 1B
Students can enroll Seminar to syntax A only after completing successfully all practical language classes in the first year of their study.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those 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
This course enhances the acquisition of linguistic knowledge and teaching competencies indispensable for the professional development of future teachers of English, in particular communication and interpersonal skills, flexibility and adaptability (viz Strategic Aim 1, Strategies 2030). The goal is to master modality including the two types of modality, intrinsic and extrinsic modality, and all kinds of non-finite verb forms, infinitives, gerunds and participles. Students are supposed to become acquainted with the analysis of the simple sentence, especially in contrast to their mother tongue, the Czech language. They also study some cohesive means, notably substitution and ellipsis. An important part of the course is the mastery of the four basic sentence types and their corresponding discourse functions. Finally, students are expected to master the semantics and grammar of adverbials.
Learning outcomes
This course will raise students’ awareness of similarities and differences between English and their mother tongue and thus enables them to identify potentially problematic areas for their future learners. More specifically they are expected: 1. to understand linguistic terms from the area of syntax and be able to explain them on concrete examples; 2. to understand the structure of the simple sentence and be able to analyze it; 3. to know how to express modality and condensation in the English sentence; 4. to be able to identify concrete syntactic features in the text and describe them while using appropriate linguistic terms.
Syllabus
  • The simple sentence. Sentence elements and types of phrases. Two types of grammatical notation: tree diagrams and bracketing. The semantics and grammar of adverbials (four criteria for their classification). Four grammatical functions of adverbials (adjuncts, subjuncts, disjuncts and conjuncts). Sentence types and discourse functions. Pro-forms and ellipsis. Introduction to modal verbs. Two kinds of modality. Ability, permission, and possibility. Past activity, habit, refusal, etc. Expectation, assumption, and conclusion. Obligation, absence of obligation. Duty and arrangement, with non-fulfilment. Use of should for suggestions, opinions, feelings, etc. The infinitive. Types of infinitive. The -ing form as a gerund. Verbs taking a full infinitive or -ing (gerund). Verbs taking the infinitive or -ing (participle) according to meaning. Complementation of verbs and adjectives. Multi-word verbs. Prepositional, phrasal and phrasal-prepositinal verbs.
Literature
    required literature
  • BIBER, Douglas. Longman grammar of spoken and written English. Edited by Randolph Quirk. Harlow: Pearson Education, 2000, xxviii, 12. ISBN 0582237254. info
  • YULE, George. Oxford practice grammar : with answers. Updated edition first publis. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019, vii, 274. ISBN 9780194214766. info
  • CHALKER, Sylvia. A student's English grammar : workbook. First published. Harlow: Longman, 1992, 186 stran. ISBN 0582088194. info
    recommended literature
  • GETHIN, Hugh. Grammar in context :proficiency level English. New edition. Harlow: Longman, 1996, 235 s. ISBN 0-17-556420-5. info
  • DUŠKOVÁ, Libuše. Mluvnice současné angličtiny na pozadí češtiny. 2. vyd. Praha: Academia, 1994, 673 s. ISBN 8020004866. info
  • YULE, George. The study of language. Seventh edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2020, xii, 371. ISBN 9781108730709. info
  • YULE, George. Oxford practice grammar : supplementary exercises with answers. First published. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009, v, 132. ISBN 9780194579872. info
  • POVOLNÁ, Renata. Grammar. 1. dotisk 1. vydání. Brno: Masarykova univerzita v Brně, 2002, 99 stran. ISBN 8021023112. info
Teaching methods
Mode of teaching: seminar The methods used in classes are mainly presentations of new and/or problematic grammatical issues by the teacher, followed by class discussions and questions from students, and various types of exercises from compulsory and recommended textbooks. As for homework, students are supposed to study in advance relevant chapters from their textbooks and prepare translations of sentences from Czech into English. Apart from that, students have to do various on-line tasks including quizzes designed particularly for their course.
Assessment methods
Students have to write one test during the term and one final test at the end of the course to get a credit from Syntax A. They are expected to attend classes on a regular basis and score at least 70 per cent with all the tests. In case of more than three absences they will be tested also orally, i.e. they will be asked some theoretical questions by their teacher or prepare some syntax activities. In case of online teaching, the mid-term as well as the final test will be organized also online.
Náhradní absolvování
It is possible to complete the course while abroad on a study stay, such as Erasmus, if an agreement is made with the teacher prior to departure. The student must self-study all the materials like regular students and pass the final test.
Language of instruction
English
Follow-Up Courses
Study support
https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=3678
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught each semester.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/auth/el/ped/podzim2023/AJ2205/povolna.qwarp, https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=3678 (Adam)
Note for students who travel on Erasmus or have a foreign internship, etc.: If you spend a semester abroad, it is theoretically possible to enroll in this course and complete it, provided you meet all course requirements through self-study and, above all, pass the final in-class exam/credit test after you return home. There is no extra work needed. It is recommended that you communicate with the teacher prior to your departure on Erasmus and then stay in touch, informing them upon your return. FOR ONLINE SEMESTER: Students are requested to secure good internet connection in order to participate in online lessons as indicated in the schedule. Students must attend these meetings with both the sound and camera on. AI Manifesto In the course, the use of AI is permitted for learning but not for cheating. It is acceptable to use AI for brainstorming ideas, basic proofreading, and suggestions for improvement. It is unacceptable to have a text generated, translated or reformulated. Remember to acknowledge all innovative ideas that are not yours. For generated ideas, use in-text citations. At the end of each assignment, state how you worked/did not work with AI. When in doubt, consult your teacher.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
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