BA Linguistics

This course unit introduces students to the grammar of English words and sentences. We start by discussing the building blocks of words and the rules that are applied in the formation of English words. We draw a distinction between two processes which are involved in the formation of English words: inflection and derivation. The study of derivation allows us to discuss word families. We then consider the principal parts of speech, or lexical categories (noun, adjective, verb, adverb and preposition), with focus on their coding and behaviour in the English language. We then move on to compounds and we introduce the notion of head. After reading week, we learn to break down English clauses into meaningful units or constituents. This gives us an opportunity to return to lexical categories and to study the types of phrase which are built upon the major categories (noun phrase, adjective phrase, verb phrase, prepositional phrase). Subsequently, we introduce the difference between categories and functions. The study of the functions subject and object leads us to draw a distinction between active and passive voice. Finally, we discuss the different types of clause (main and subordinate) and we consider how clauses join together to form different types of sentences.

This course assumes no previous knowledge of English grammar. Students mustbe able to read academic English to take this course.

The aim of this course unit is to introduce students to structural and functional properties of English words and sentences. Upon successful completion of the course unit students will have an understanding of the foundations of morphology and syntax as applied to the study of the English language. 

One two-hour lecture and one one-hour tutorial per week. (Tutorials start in week 2 of teaching).

E-Learning: All course material, including lecture handouts, practice exercises, links to electronically available readings, and course and assessment info will be made available on Blackboard. Students will be able to discuss all aspects of the course with their peers and the teaching staff both in lecture and tutorial time as well as in Peer Assisted Study Scheme sessions. 

• Aronoff, Mark and Fudeman, Kirsten Anne. 2005. What is morphology? Wiley-Blackwell.
• Borjars, Kersti and Burridge, Kate. 2010 [2001] Introducing English Grammar. London: Arnold. (Set text for syntax component of the course unit).
• Carstairs-McCarthy, Andrew. 2002. An Introduction to English Morphology. Words and Their Structure. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. (Set text for morphology component of the course unit).
• Coates, Richard. 1999. Word Structure. London: Routledge.
• Fábregas, Antonio and Scalise, Sergio. 2012. Morphology. From Data to Theories. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
• Haspelmath, Martin. 2002. Understanding Morphology. London: Arnold.
• Lieber, Rochelle. 2010. Introducing Morphology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Payne, T. 1997.Describing Morphosyntax. Cambridge University Press.
• Stump, Gregory. 1998. Inflection. In Andrew Spencer and Arnold M. Zwicky (eds). The Handbook of Morphology. Oxford; Blackwell, pp. 13-33.
• Tallerman, M. 2005. Understanding syntax. Hodder Arnold. 2nd edition.

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £29,200 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

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As an international student you may be eligible for our - Global Futures Scholarships. This is open to students starting their studies in September 2026.