This course focusses on the grammar of Standard English, providing a clear and stable foundation for exploring how grammatical systems work in theory and practice. One aim of the course is to help students understand English grammar as it is actually used, rather than as it is prescribed in usage manuals or grammar textbooks. Accordingly, the course adopts a descriptive (rather than prescriptive) approach, presenting rules that reflect authentic patterns of spoken and written English. It will clarify English sentence structure and establish a solid basis for more advanced study. Another important aim of the course is to introduce a cognitive perspective on grammar, drawing on Ronald Langacker’s model of Cognitive Grammar. This approach offers deeper insight into grammar as a human experience and into the cognitive principles that motivate its structure, in contrast to traditional grammar centred on forms, structures, and rules.
- Basic sentence structure
- Word classes
- Phrase types
- Sentences and clauses
- Usage and style
- The basics of Cognitive Grammar
1. Analyse the structure and complexity of Standard English grammar by exploring authentic usage patterns and real-world language practices;
2. Identify, analyse, and reflect on exceptions to established rules and the diversity of writing styles, understanding the interplay between prescriptive norms and actual language use;
3. Apply an accurate, descriptive understanding of grammar to improve everyday language skills while establishing a robust foundation for advanced linguistic study;
4. Evaluate and discuss key concepts from Cognitive Grammar, investigating how language functions as a tool for conceptualisation and reflects the intricate relationship between linguistic form and human cognition.
There will be one 2-hour lecture per week and one tutorial on alternate weeks.
- Participation in lectures and tutorials with worked exercises (20%)
- Critical review presentation with peer feedback (40%)
- Take-home quiz (40%)
A list of required and recommended readings will be provided.