Grammar Spotlight
The English Grammar Profile (EGP) is a sister resource to the English Vocabulary Profile, and has been put together by Anne O'Keeffe (Limerick University) and Geraldine Mark, the co-authors, along with Ron Carter and Mike McCarthy, of English Grammar Today (Cambridge University Press). Mark and O'Keeffe investigated the extensive data in the Cambridge Learner Corpus to establish when learners begin to get to grips with different linguistic structures.
A series of insights from their research will be posted on this page, each one putting the spotlight on an interesting aspect of learner grammar development. Please note that all of the learner examples come from the Cambridge Learner Corpus, a 55-million word electronic collection of written learner data. The examination and the candidate’s first language are given in brackets after each learner example.
See the latest Grammar Spotlight entry below. Scroll right down to the bottom of this page to browse through previous entries.
Discourse makers are rarely seen in learner work at the A1 level. Once the A2 level is achieved, learners are able to accurately use a few simple discourse markers.
As you know is found in the work of A2 level learners as a marker of shared knowledge. However, unlike native speakers, who exhibit a clear preference for placing this phrase in the middle of a statement, learners across CEFR levels use as you know most frequently to start a statement (despite being able to competently use the phrase in the middle of a sentence as well).
As you know, my parents are leaving home tomorrow night to go to Spain. (Cambridge English: Key; French)
As you know, I’m a good driver. (Cambridge English: Key; Turkish)
I can’t come to your wedding because, as you know, I live in England and on Thursday 18th July I’m going to take the FCE exam. (Skills for Life: Entry 2; Polish)
Learners at the A2 level are also able to use so as a discourse marker to summarise, usually in informal contexts.
So, what do you think? (Cambridge English: Key; Portuguese)
[talking about not being able to make it to a party] I have got an appointment with my dentist. So, I’m really sorry about that and I’m getting so sad. (Skills for Life: Entry 2; Farsi)
I’ll be free at 15.00. So, I’ll be at your house at 15.30. (Cambridge English: Key; Catalan)
Although the range of discourse markers used at the A2 level is quite limited, learners clearly demonstrate understanding of their functions. As learners progress to the B1 level, they make impressive progress in the range of discourse markers that they employ in their writing.
