ENGL 201: STRUCTURE OF MODERN ENGLISH (Fall 2014)

Instructors:
Days/Hours Classroom Office Phone
01. Balkız Öztürk Başaran WThTh 334 KPARK3 NH 103 NH 103 TB 115-7 7535
02. Didar Akar WThTh 334 TB 240 NH 303 NH 303 TB 475 4689

Teaching Assistant:
Office Phone
01. & 02. Ömer Eren TB455 6635

Course Objective: The main goal of this course is to introduce the major grammatical concepts and
categories associated with English syntax. The course will specifically focus on the basic units and processes
of sentence formation in English grammar. It will also present a broader picture of what linguistic
knowledge is regarding sentence structure with specific emphasis on the issue of Universal Grammar.

Course Requirements
*Three assignments to be completed during the semester
* Regular attendance and participation in lectures and problem sessions
*One Midterm
* A cumulative final exam
* The passing grade for the course is 55.

Grading:
Assignments, attendance, participation: 10%
Midterm exam: 40%
Final exam: 50% of your course grade.

Students who get lower than 40 in the midterm will not be able to take the final exam!

Reference Books
De Carrico, J. S. 2002. The Structure of English. The University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor.
Jacobs, R. A. 1995. English Syntax. Oxford University Press.
Tallerman, M. Understanding Syntax. Arnold: London.
van Gelderen, E. 2002. An Introduction to the Grammar of English. John Benjamins: Amsterdam.

SYLLABUS

Week 1: Sept 24-25
Week 2: Oct 1-2
Week 3: Oct 8-9
Week 4: Oct 15-16
Week 5: Oct 22-23
Week 6: Oct 30
Week 7: Nov 5-6
Week 8: Nov 12-13
Week 9: Nov19-20
Week 10: Nov 26-27
Week 11: Dec 3-4
Week 12: Dec 10-11
Week 13: Dec 17-18
Week 14:Dec 24-25
Introduction – Overview of the course: What is linguistic knowledge?
Lexical Categories vs. Functional Categories
Constituency Tests
X-bar model / Building trees
Argument Structure,
argument-adjunct distinction
Representing clauses and phrases via X-bar model
Finiteness, Verb Categories, Infinitival Clauses
Theta roles
Head movement and Yes-No Questions
NP-movement, passive and raising
Wh-movement
Relative Clauses
Gerunds