Verb-form errors in EAP writing
This study was conducted to identify and describe the written verb-form errors found in the EAP writing of 39 second year learners pursuing a three-year Diploma Programme from a public university in Malaysia. Data for this study, which were collected from a written 350-word discursive essay, were...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
Academic Journals
2010
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/17592/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/17592/1/Verbform%20errors%20in%20EAP%20writing.pdf |
| Summary: | This study was conducted to identify and describe the written verb-form errors found in the EAP writing
of 39 second year learners pursuing a three-year Diploma Programme from a public university in
Malaysia. Data for this study, which were collected from a written 350-word discursive essay, were
analyzed to determine the types and frequency of verb form errors. The subjects’ verb-form errors were
identified and categorized under four category types: omission, addition, misformation and ordering.
The findings revealed that the subjects made the most number of errors in the omission verb-forms in
the area of the third person singular verb (-s/-es/-ies). This occurred when they tried to make the verb
agree with the singular subject or plural subject by dropping the -s inflection from the third person
singular verb or making the verb plural by adding the –s inflection, respectively. The frequencies of
errors of addition and misformation were almost the same while verb-form errors of ordering had the
least number of errors. The copula ‘’be’’ verb was a major problematic area. The subjects tended to
over-generalize and, hence, either omitted the ‘’be’’ verb or used it wrongly. Errors in writing will affect
the readability and quality of the piece of work. So, in this light, the subjects’ verb-form errors have to
be identified so that they can be equipped with the basics of producing error-free writing. |
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