Advanced English Grammar
Winter 2015
Instructor: Hilary Wang
Phone: (503) 725 - 9196
Email: hilaryw@pdx.edu
Office: UCB 400H
Office Hours: M 1-2, or by arrangement
Class Wiki: aegwang.pbworks.com
Textbook: Understanding and Using English Grammar- workbook. 4th edition, by Betty
Azar.
(NOTE- you must have a completely CLEAN copy of this book)
We will also use the Longman Academic Writing Series 4 by Oshima and Hogue
Course Content:
As a student in this level, you are expected to already know about
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The form and use of all twelve verb tenses in English (simples, progressives,
perfects, and perfect-progressives)
The form and basic of use of passive verbs
Formation and basic use of clauses, including adjective, adverb, and noun clauses
Meaning of modals like can, could, may, might, will, and would
Gerunds and infinitives as the objects of verbs
The articles (a/an, the, and ø), though you might not use these correctly all the time
We will review these grammar points. For example, you will do homework assignments
and take quizzes about passive verbs. However, if you already know that you have weak
skills in any of these areas, you will also need to study on your own. This is especially true
if you have not really mastered the English verb tense system, the forms of passive verbs,
or the forms of adjective, adverb, and noun clauses. Talk to Hilary if you are not sure what
you should do.
There are also some new grammar points that will be introduced this term. We will
practice them, take quizzes about them, and do writing assignments to help you
understand them. They include:
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Past modals
For example: They may have forgotten to register for classes.
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Reduced adjective and adverb clauses
For example: The student who was sitting next to me was nice.
Having taken the class before, John understood the subject very well.
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Conditionals, Present/Future Unreal and Past Unreal
For example: If he had studied harder, he would have passed the exam.
Course Goals:
To improve your understanding of and familiarity with the form, meaning, and use of the
grammatical structures listed above
To improve your ability to correctly use these structures in writing
To develop strategies that will help you improve in areas of weakness
To demonstrate understanding of these structures through short writing assignments
To review grammar in writing using peer and self-editing techniques
In order to pass this course, you must be able to:
Use the above structures in writing correctly with at least 70% accuracy
Complete assigned homework on time with 70% accuracy.
Take and pass quizzes and tests with at least a 70% average
(no make up tests/quizzes)
Participate actively in classroom assignments using the structures being studied.
Note: If you do not pass the final exam with at least a 70%, you will not pass this
class.
Your grade will be based on the following:
Tests and quizzes
30%
 We will have frequent quizzes (usually one every week). There are no make-up
quizzes, so if you miss class on a quiz day you will receive a grade of zero.
However, I will drop your lowest quiz when I calculate your final grade.
Homework/participation
30%
 You are expected to do all grammar exercises from the textbook which are
assigned. Furthermore, you are expected to check and correct your homework
using the answer key and a different color pen. If you do not understand a mistake
you made, put a big star next to it and ask me at the beginning of the next class. I
will check your books frequently and at random to make sure that you are doing
your homework. Many questions on the quizzes will come from hw, so if you are
doing your homework thoroughly, you should get good grades on the quizzes.
 Every week I will also assign hw to turn in to me. I will tell you if I plan to collect it.
 Homework is due the day after it is assigned. All homework is posted on the wiki so
there should be no excuses for not turning in homework on time. If you have to
miss class, you can email your homework to me, or put it under my office door
(UCB 400H).

Turn your cell phones off before class starts. No texting during class.
Final Exam
40%
 Finals week is March 16- 18. Do not make travel plans to leave Portland before this
time.
Attendance: Note that class starts promptly at 10:15. Three tardies (late arrivals) = 1
absence. Attendance is required in all IELP classes. Attendance is required for
academic reasons and to maintain your immigration status. If you don't attend class, you
will not learn, you will miss important quizzes and tests, and you will not earn good grades.
If you don't attend class, you will violate the terms of your student visa and you can be
dismissed from the IELP. However, if you are sick with the flu, please take care of yourself
and protect your classmates by staying home. Send me an email to let me know that you
are ill. If you do have to miss class, you are responsible for checking the wiki to find
out what homework you need to do.
Holidays: Jan 19- Martin Luther King Day
Feb 11- Faculty Development Day
Plagiarism: You must do your own homework. Do not copy a classmate’s work. If you
copy, your homework will receive a grade of zero. Also, you must do your own work on
tests and quizzes. If you copy or cheat during a test, you will receive a grade of zero on
that test, and an academic dishonesty report will be filed.
Note: If you have a disability that makes it difficult for you to take part in class activities,
please talk to me and I will help you find resources to assist you. Students with disabilities
or health problems can get help from the PSU Disability Resource Center (DRC), in SMSU
Room 116. The DRC staff will work with your teacher to support your special needs.
Tentative Calendar
1/12
Most important verb tenses
1/19
MLK day. NO SCHOOL
1/26
Quiz 2: nouns
passive
2/2
1/14
Subject verb agreement in
present tense
1/21
Quiz 1: verbs/ agreement
Nouns count/ non-count
1/28
Passive verb + preposition
combinations
2/4
1/9
Diagnostic
Syllabus
1/16
subject/verb agreement
1/23
Abstract nouns
1/30
Modals as hedges
2/6
Perfect modals
Passive modals
2/9
2/11
Perfective infinitives and
gerunds- focus on
recognition
FACULTY DEVELOPMENT Causative verbs
DAY- no school
2/16
Quiz 5: gerunds/ infinitives/
causatives
Noun clauses
2/23
Reduced adj clauses
2/18
Noun clauses
2/20
Adj clauses
2/25
Reduced adj clauses
3/2
Adv clauses
3/4
Reduced adv clauses
2/27
Quiz 6: noun and adj
clauses
Parallel structure
3/6
Quiz 7: adv clauses
3/9
Conditionals
3/11
Conditionals
3/16
FINALS WEEK
Quiz 3: passive and modals
Passive gerunds and
infinitives
2/13
3/13
Discuss final
Course evaluation