Academic Catalogs

ELL A045N: Intermediate Grammar Review 2

Course Outline of Record
Item Value
Eff Term Fall 2026
Curriculum Committee Approval Date 11/12/2025
Top Code 493087 - English as a Second Language - Integrated
Units 0 Total Units 
Hours Lecture Hours 54
Total Outside of Class Hours 0
Total Student Learning Hours 0
Course Credit Status Noncredit (N)
Material Fee No
Basic Skills Basic Skills (B)
Repeatable Yes; Repeat Limit 99
Open Entry/Open Exit Yes
Grading Policy P/NP/SP Non-Credit (D)

Course Description

This course is the fourth in a sequence of six grammar review courses designed to provide non-native English speaking students additional opportunities to master various essential grammatical structures. In this intermediate course, students will expand their understanding of the English verb system and sentence structures, with an introduction to the passive voice, phrasal verbs, and compound sentence structures. Students will practice identifying and producing these target structures in spontaneous oral and written communication. This is an open-entry noncredit course. NOT DEGREE APPLICABLE. Not Transferable.

Course Level Student Learning Outcome(s)

  1. Students will be able to use coordinating conjunctions, conjunctive adverbs, prepositional phrases, and some adverbial clauses to correctly construct intermediate sentence structures orally and in writing.
  2. Students will be able to distinguish when the separation of phrasal verbs is necessary, optional or forbidden.
  3. Students will accurately use the passive voice and use past participles as adjectives to construct intermediate sentences.

Course Objectives

  • 1. use prepositional phrases to expand simple and compound sentences
  • 2. identify and correctly use various transition words and phrases
  • 3. distinguish inseparable phrasal verbs from separable
  • 4. construct sentences using the passive voice
  • 5. Distinguish and use active and passive (participial) adjectives

Lecture Content

  1. Coordinating conjunctions: For, And, But, Or, Yet, So

    1. Punctuation

    2. Effect on meaning

  2. Conjunctive adverbs: However, Nevertheless, Nonetheless, Thus, Therefore, Consequently Similarly, Otherwise, On the other hand

    1. Punctuation 

    2. Effect on Meaning

  3. Intermediate Adverb Clauses

    1. Time (after, before, until, since)

    2. Reason (because, since)

    3. Concession (though, although, even though)

    4. Punctuation Effect on meaning

  4. Expanding clauses with prepositional phrases

    1. As noun modifiers

    2. As verb modifiers

    3. As adjective modifiers

    4. As adverb modifiers

  5. Gerunds and Infinitives + Phrasal verbs

  6. Passive

    1. Active vs. passive sentences

    2. forms of the passive,

    3. transitive and intransitive verbs,

    4. using the by-phrase,

    5. passive modals,

    6. using past participle as adjectives,

    7. participial adjectives (-ed/-ing), get + adjective, get + past participle,

    8. be used to/ accustomed to,

    9. used to vs. be used, be supposed to 

Method(s) of Instruction

  • Enhanced NC Lect (NC1)
  • Live Online Enhanced NC Lect (NC9)
  • Online Enhanced NC Lect (NC5)

Instructional Techniques

Lecture and discussion Oral and written practice Collaborative learning Use of computer software Reflective learning (Grammar editing notebooks, written and audio journaling)

Reading Assignments

Students will spend at least 2 hours per week completing reading assignments covering grammar explanations and models regarding the use, form and meaning of each of the targeted grammar forms and at least 0.5 hours weekly reading short unmodified articles.

Writing Assignments

Students will spend at least 2 hours per week completing written assignments including short responses to assigned unmodified articles, a written log of their grammar errors and a reflective journal exploring their use of targeted structures.

Out-of-class Assignments

Students will spend at least 2 hours practicing the correct use of the targeted structures by completing textbook exercises, written and oral practice, editing exercises, and preparing oral presentations.

Methods of Student Evaluation

  • Midterm Exam
  • Final Exam
  • Short Quizzes
  • Objective Examinations
  • Report
  • Projects (Individual/Group)
  • Problem Solving Exercises
  • Oral Presentations

Demonstration of Critical Thinking

Students will apply their knowledge of the targeted structures to contrast the meaning conveyed by similar grammar forms. Students will evaluate the appropriateness of each structure in a specific situation.

Required Writing, Problem Solving, Skills Demonstration

Students will apply their knowledge of the targeted grammar structures to edit their errors. Students will apply their knowledge of the targeted grammar structures to resolve communication problems orally and in writing.

Resources Subscreen

  • Textbook: Azar, B. S., Hagen, S. A. . Fundamentals of English Grammar: Student Book. 5th ed. Pearson Education ESL (2018).
  • Open Education Resource: Rebecca Al Haider. High-Intermediate Academic Grammar for ESL Students. (2024).

Eligible Discipline(s)

  • English as a Second Language (ESL): Master’s degree in TESL, TESOL, applied linguistics with a TESL emphasis, linguistics with a TESL emphasis, English with a TESL emphasis, or education with a TESL emphasis OR bachelor’s degree in TESL, TESOL, English with a TESL certificate, linguistics with a TESL certificate, applied linguistics with a TESL certificate, or any foreign language with a TESL certificate AND master’s degree in linguistics, applied linguistics, English, composition, bilingual/bicultural studies, reading, speech, or any foreign language OR the equivalent. Master's degree required.