Beyond the simple subject-verb-object (SVO) pattern, systemic grammar looks at transitivity – which is the system of how we represent experience in clauses.
Chapter 1: Beyond Right and Wrong
The opening chapter challenges the traditional “prescriptive” view. It argues that grammar is not a set of prohibitions (“don’t split infinitives”) but a resource for making meaning. Teachers learn to distinguish between:
Example: “Me and John went to the store” is “incorrect” in a textbook but perfectly natural in casual speech. A good teacher explains when and why such forms occur, not just that they are “wrong.” Example: “Me and John went to the store”
Chapter 2: The Building Blocks – Words, Phrases, and Clauses
A quick but thorough review of English syntax, focusing on the rank scale:
Chapter 3: Meaning in Context – The Three Metafunctions
Introduces the core SFL concept that grammar simultaneously performs three jobs: Chapter 3: Meaning in Context – The Three
Teachers learn to ask not just “Is this sentence correct?” but “What is this sentence doing?”
Chapter 9: Theme and Rheme – What’s Your Starting Point?
Introduces the system of Thematic structure: focusing on the rank scale :
Chapter 10: Given and New – Managing Information
The system of information structure:
Chapter 11: Cohesion – The Glue That Holds Text Together
Grammatical and lexical cohesion devices: