AJ2203 Grammar A

Faculty of Education
Autumn 2022
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
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: Wed 8:00–9:50 učebna 57, except Wed 26. 10., R. Jančaříková
AJ2203/02: Mon 13:00–14:50 učebna 53, except Mon 24. 10., R. Jančaříková
AJ2203/03: Mon 11:00–12:50 učebna 54, except Mon 24. 10., R. Jančaříková
AJ2203/04: Mon 8:00–9:50 učebna 63, except Mon 24. 10., R. Jančaříková
AJ2203/05: Thu 13:00–14:50 učebna 63, except Thu 27. 10., R. Jančaříková
AJ2203/06: Thu 8:00–9:50 učebna 53, except Thu 27. 10., 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
'Grammar A' course is designed for the 1st year students and as such it consolidates 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 a 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.
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;
- identify and explain the verbal categories of tense, voice, mood and aspect with a 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 vs. clause; simple vs. multiple sentence
  • 2. General linguistic terminology: markedness; types of reference (generic vs. specific); open vs. closed 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. Present perfect and past perfect - simple and continuous and comparison with the past simple and past cont. (discussed previously)
  • 11. Expressing future - structures used to express the future in English
Literature
    required literature
  • BIBER, Douglas, Susan CONRAD and Geoffrey N. LEECH. Longman student grammar of spoken and written English. First published. Harlow: Longman, 2002, vii, 487. ISBN 9780582237278. info
  • YULE, George. Oxford practice grammar : with answers. Updated edition first publis. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019, vii, 274. ISBN 9780194214766. 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
  • 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
  • GREENBAUM, Sidney and Randolph QUIRK. A student's grammar of the English language. First published. Harlow: Longman, 1990, 490 stran. ISBN 0582059712. info
  • CHALKER, Sylvia. A student's English grammar : workbook. First published. Harlow: Longman, 1992, 186 stran. ISBN 0582088194. 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
Teaching methods
homework, self-study, class discussions, pair work, group work, online forums
Assessment methods
Requirements:
1. ATTENDANCE - compulsory, 80% required
2. HOMEWORK/ SELF-STUDY/ CLASS PARTICIPATION- the work in class is based on the materials that the students are required to study before the seminars
3. ONLINE QUIZZES in the Moodle course (11 quizzes, 1 per topic)
4. 2 PROGRESS TESTS - Topics 1-4; Topics 5-9
5. FINAL TEST in the exam period (pass 70%)
Students are required to work regularly in the moodle course using the study and practice materials provided
Methods of assessment: progress tests, online quizzes, final test, online discussions
For more info and cont. assessment details, 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
Teacher's information
https://moodlinka.ics.muni.cz/course/view.php?id=2774
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/ped/autumn2022/AJ2203