NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Foreign Languages- English for Business Department

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GRAMMAR THEORY

Course Syllabus
Instructors
Tel:
Email:
For any questions, please contact the instructors by phone, email, or by
appointment at the department office (not after 9pm for phone).

1. General Information
THEORETICAL GRAMMAR 1 is a course on theoretical
grammar designed for second year students of English major at
NEU. This course is aimed at providing students basic
understanding of main areas of English grammar.

2. Course Objectives:
- To provide students theoretical knowledge about main areas of
English grammar (morphemes, words, phrases, clauses and
sentences).
- To provide students exercises so that they can apply the theories
into practice.
- To get the students practice skills in analyzing and explaining
grammar- related phenomena.

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 - To develop for students critical thinking in judging one
grammatical usage in reality.
2. Learning outcomes:
By the end of this course, the students will be able to:
- Understand some basic concepts of morphology and syntax.
- Use terminology necessary for the description of word
formation, parts of speech, and sentence elements and
structures.
- Master basic concepts of clauses and sentences.
- Tell differences between simple, compound and complex
sentences.
- Analyze and explain grammatical phenomena related to syntax.
- Reflect understanding of the main areas of English grammar on
the implications for language learning and teaching, translation
and interpretation.

3. Materials

Compulsory Textbook
Quirk, R. & Greenbaum, S. (1979). A University Grammar of English.
Oxford University Press.

Recommended readings:
1. Berk, Lynn M (1999) English syntax: From words to discourse.
Oxford University Press
2. Biber, D et. al (1999) Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written
English. London. Longman Group Ltd.
3. Delahunty, G.P. & Garvey, J.J. (1994). Language, Grammar and

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 Communication. Mc Grawhill.
4. Freeborn, D. (1995). A Coursebook in English Grammar:
Standard English and the Dialects. Macmillan.
5. Greenbaum, S. (1996). The Oxford English Grammar. Oxford
University Press.
6. Huddleston, R. (1985). An Introduction to the Grammar of
English. Cambridge University Press.
7. Kaplan, J. (1989). English Grammar: Principles and facts.
London: Prentice Hall
8. Quirk, R.; Greenbaum, S.; Leech, G. & Svartvik, J. (1973). A
Grammar of Contemporary English. Oxford University Press.
9. Thomson, A.J. & Martinet, A.V. (1980). A Practical English
Grammar. Cambridge University Press.
10. Wardhaugh, R(1995). Understanding English grammar: A
Linguistic approach. Blackwell
11.Yule, G. (2001) The study of language. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
5. Methodology
This course applies communicative approach, specifically:
- Give interactive instructions to students on the basis of exchange ideas
and opinions.
- Organise group presentation and discussions/ periodical seminars on
questions raised by teachers and students themselves.
- Group presenters design small exercises for participators.

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6. Assessment:
Students’ performance in the course will be assessed on the following
criteria:
Criteria % Requirements
1. Attendance and 10 Homework completion (Quirk, R. & Greenbaum, S.

Participation + (1979). A University Grammar of English.

Workbook. Oxford University Press.) and active
comments (either
class-participation
online or offline) for
their cross-check
group or individual
2. Assignment/ 20 60-minute-group-presentation in class
presentation
2. Mid- term 10 Completing (no limit times) online exercises
on LMS. Your mark will be the average
marks you get after times you do the online
exercises.
3. Final exam 60 90-minute closed exam. There are 6 different
tasks with multiple task, gap-filling,
matching, diagram drawing.
Total 100

Marking scale is 10/10

7. Contents and schedule
The course will last for 12 weeks. The class meets once a week for 2 periods
of 60 minutes. The contents and schedule below will be adjusted during the
course if needed.

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Wk Topic Topics to be covered Recommended Readings Suggested Topics for written
assignment
1. Introduct Overview of grammar units Kaplan, J. (1989). English Note: Group students, register
ion (morpheme, word, phrase, clause, Grammar: Principles and for topics to be presented.
and sentence) facts. London: Prentice Hall

Some basic concepts Appendix I, Quirk, R. and

Greenbaum, S. (1973)

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2 Nouns and 1. Classification of nouns: Wardhaugh, R. (1995) Addressing forms; gender
pronouns common/ proper; concrete/ Understanding English discrimination in language;
abstract; count/ non- count grammar: A Linguistic companies and Government
Grammatical categories of nouns: approach. Blackwell Agency names; titles;
number, gender, case. Berk, Lynn M (1999) English Count and non-count nouns in
Types of pronouns: personal, syntax: From words to economic journals.
possessive, reflexive, reciprocal, discourse. Oxford University Pronouns in speech of country
demonstrative, interrogative, Press leaders.
relative, universal, partitive,
quantifying.

3: The Basic The basic noun- phrase: Berk, Lynn M (1999) English Noun phrases in business
Phrase Noun phrase; definition, its possible elements. syntax: From words to documents; contracts; formal
discourse. Oxford University letters; economic journals.
Press

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4 The complex Premodifiers, Postmodifiers, Berk, Lynn M (1999) English Noun phrases in business
noun- phrase Multiple modification Restrictive syntax: From words to documents; contracts; formal
vs. non-restrictive modification, discourse. Oxford University letters; find out the rules of
Temporary vs. permanent Press multiple post-modifiers in noun
modification phrase structure
Evaluating translated English
complex noun-phrases on
journals, articles or short
stories.

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5 Adjective Adjective phrase and adjectival Quirk & Greenbaum (1973) A Adjectives in types of letters
phrase, complementation University grammar of (complaint; disagreement;),
English. London: Longman advertisements; leaflets;
group limited Differences between
adjective phrases in English
and Vietnamese fairytales,
advertisements
6 Prepositional Structure and functions Quirk & Greenbaum (1973) A The differences in using
phrase, adverbial Place relations, University grammar of prepositions between
phrase Time relations English. London: Longman Vietnamese and English
Adjunct; disjunct group limited (pp 143- 165) speakers.
Complementation of verb or Discourse markers in speech
adjective of presidents.
7 Verbs and the Types of verbs Huddleston, R. (1985) Formal and Informal verbs
verb- phrase; Structure of the verb phrase Introduction to the Grammar in certain business field;
Verb forms of English. Cambridge Assertive Verbs; Vagueness
University Press in verb usage;

8 Verbs and the Grammatical categories of verbs Berk, Lynn M (1999) English Formal and Informal verbs

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 verb- phrase  Tenses: present-past syntax: From words to in certain business field;
(con’t)  Aspects: perfective- discourse. Oxford University Assertive Verbs; Vagueness
progressive Press in verb usage;
 Mood: indicative- Huddleston, R. (1984) Metaphor in economics:
imperative- subjunctive; Introduction to the Grammar E.g. head quarter; officer;
Voice: active-passive of English. Cambridge front line
University Press
8 The verbs and its Phrasal, prepositional, phrasal- Berk, Lynn M (1999) English Formal and Informal
complementation prepositional verbs syntax: From words to discourses (e.g. legal
The complementation of verbs discourse. Oxford University documents; decrees vs.;
Press advertisements)
John Benjamins Publishing
9 The simple Clause- elements (S, V, O, C, Quirk, R. et. al (1973) A Discourse analysis; The
sentence A): syntactic features and Grammar of Contemporary popularity of simple
semantic roles. English. London. Longman sentences in English and
Clause patterns: SVC, SVA, Group Limited. pp. 34-44 (2.1- Vietnamese discourse/
SVO, SVOO, SVOC, SVOA & 2.11) & 348-358 (7.8-7.22) economic journals.
SV. Biber, D et. al (1999) Longman

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 Grammar of Spoken and
Written English. London.
Longman Group Ltd. pp.122-
134.
10 The simple Negation: Scope of negation, Berk, Lynn M. (1999) English
Focus of negation
sentence (con’t) Syntax: From Word to
Negation of modal auxiliaries
Discourse. Oxford University
Press. Chapter 1. pp. 9-53.

Freeborn, D. (1995) A Course-

book in English Grammar:
Standard English and the
Dialects. Macmillan. pp.272-
279.
10 The simple Questions: Yes/ No questions, Quirk, R. et. al (1972) A Discourse analysis
sentence (con’t) Wh- questions, Alternative Grammar of Contemporary
questions. English. London. Longman
Concord: agreement of sentence Group Limited. pp. 359-372
elements S-V Concord, Notional (7.23-7.38)

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 Concord, Biber, D et. al (1999) Longman
Proximity, Other types of Grammar of Spoken and
concord between clause Written English. London.
elements Longman Group Ltd. pp.180-
192.
11 Coordination Ellipsis, coordination of clauses, Quirk, R. et. al (1972) A The ambiguity in ellipsis
and Apposition coordination of phrases, Grammar of Contemporary phrases; the popularity of
restrictive vs. non- restrictive English. London. Longman restrictive and non-restrictive
apposition Group Limited. apposition.
12 The Complex Definition Quirk, R. et. al (1972) A Discourse analysis; Types of
Sentence Subordinators and subordination Grammar of Contemporary popular complex sentences in
Structural classification of English. London. Longman economic journals.
subordinate clauses
Functional classification of Group Limited. pp. 720-734 Việc chuyển dịch các câu
subordinate clauses (11.1-11.15) phức sang tiếng Việt.
The Complex Nominal clauses, Adverbial Huddleston, R. (1983) English Discourse analysis; Types of
Sentence (con’t) clauses Grammar: an outline. CUP. popular complex sentences in
Direct and indirect speech Chapter 11, pp. 152-171. economic journals.

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 Biber, D et. al (1999) Longman
Grammar of Spoken and
Written English. London.
Longman Group Ltd. pp. 85-
87.

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 Requirements for Presentation
Leader of the group has to send the teacher the plan of what the group is
going to write about (i.e. what parts will be covered, reasons for shortening
down some points); what is the title of the presentation.
The presentation is divided into 2 main parts which is roundly equal.
Part 1: Theoretical Grammar (narrowed): Main theory presented by the
teacher in the previous lesson.
Exercise: While presenting theory, the presentation group will design a small
exercise for the whole class to wrap up information in the previous lesson;
hand-out might be used; on the slides, all exercises and keys must be added
so that everyone can understand right away. It is suggested that examples
mentioned in the theory part should be taken from the chosen genre.
Besides, all the examples MUST include the source from the genre.
Exercises can be consulted from the workbook, but it is suggested to take
from a specific genre.
Part 2: Application: Application to find out some features of a certain genre/
type of discourse (applying all theory into practice; e.g. theory is about
pronoun  apply into talking about personal pronoun and addressing forms
of English and Vietnamese). This is the main part of the presentation.
Part 1 is a supporter for part 2 which illustrates the theory mentioned in
part 1.

This is the structure of the presentation:

Name: Name with specific information about genre, the grammar points
(e.g. Addressing forms in business letters)

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I. Part 1: Background
1. Features of the… (add the Genre here; e.g. business letters)
- Definition of terms in the genre (e.g. business letters)
- Features of the genre (e.g business letters)
2. Methodology
- Number of articles used for collecting data (e.g. how many business
letters are collected and analyzed);
- The RESULTS from data- (show with a chart illustrating the number)
II. Part 2: features of that genre (e.g. Addressing forms in business
letters)
1. Theory: Information of the grammar points relating to the genre (e.g.
noun, pronoun, addressing forms, types of pronouns, addressing
forms, reasons for verifying addressing forms).
While talking about theory, examples used to illustrate theory must
be taken from the chosen genre. Besides, all the examples MUST
include the source from the genre (e.g.: Sources: “Gone with the
Wind” pp. 72).
The points mentioned must follow a certain organization which
reflects the main and outstanding features of the genre used for
analysis. E.g. types of pronouns.
2. Conclusion: Re-state/ name the outstanding feature of the certain
genre which the group found out from the analysis process.

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