Structure of English


Provides the grammatical knowledge necessary for a descriptive analysis of the structure of contemporary English, from the level of word class through phrase structure analysis to the description of complex sentence patterns. On completion of the course students should be able to provide a grammatical analysis of English sentential structure.



  • Semester 2 - 2015
  • Semester 1 - 2015

Learning Outcomes

1. Understand grammatical terminology and levels of grammatical analysis

2. Analyse sentences in terms of word classes, phrase structure, grammatical relations

3. Apply grammatical knowledge to the analysis of English sentential structure.


A descriptive analysis of the structure of contemporary English. Topics covered will be selected from the following:
formal criteria for word class identification
analysis of simple clause structures
grammatical relations
finite and non-finite subordinate clauses
coordination and apposition
interrogative structures
topicalisation structures such as existential, extraposition, cleft and pseudo-cleft

Assumed Knowledge

LING1110, LING1100, LING1111 or equivalent knowledge of elementary grammatical terminology.

Assessment Items

Written Assignment: Written Assignment 1

Formal Examination: Final Exam

Written Assignment: Written Assignment 2

Written Assignment: Written Assignment 3

Contact Hours

Ourimbah and Callaghan

