TENSE ERRORS IN ENGLISH ESSAYS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

TENSE ERRORS IN ENGLISH ESSAYS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

ABSTRACT

This Research Work focused on the tense errors in the English essays of Secondary Schools Students. The research was conducted on essays written by thirty (30) Students of the above school. The analysis of the essays revealed the deficiencies of some of the Students in using English tense. In the use of the present tense, for instance, Students had more difficulties in the use of present tense compare to the use of other tense. It has also been observed that students commit these errors as a result of their mother tongue interference. It was also found out that the errors were as a result of poor teaching methods, lack of adequate textbooks and qualified English teachers. To minimize these problems, we suggest that the government should provide adequate textbooks on English grammar and qualified English teachers. So that student in the lower classes should be exposed to the various situations in which tenses should be used.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONTENTS                                                                                                     PAGE

Title Page        –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           i

Declaration      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           ii

Approval Page            –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –                       iii

Dedication      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           iv

Acknowledgement      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           v

Abstract          –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           vi

Table of Contents       –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           vii

CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.0       Background of the Study       –           –           –           –           –           –           1

1.1       Statement of Problem –           –           –           –           –           –           –           1

1.2       Aim and Objectives    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           2

1.3       Significance of the Study       –           –           –           –           –           –           2

1.4       Scope and Delimitation          –           –           –           –           –           –           2

1.5       Justification of The Study      –           –           –           –           –           –           3

1.6       Methodology  –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           3

 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0       Meaning of Tense       –           –           –           –           –           –           –           4

2.1       Types of English Tenses         –           –           –           –           –           –           5

2.2       Error Analysis –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           8

2.3       Types of Errors           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           10

 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.0       Introduction    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           15

3.1       Sources of Data          –           –           –           –           –           –           –           15

3.2       Method of Data Presentation And Analysis –           –           –           –           15

 CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION

4.1       Introduction    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           17

4.2       Data Presentation        –           –           –           –           –           –           –           18

4.3       Data Analysis and Interpretation        –           –           –           –           –           26

 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.0       Introduction    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           27

5.1       Summary         –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           27

5.2       Conclusion      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           28

5.3       Recommendations      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           29

Works Cited    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           30

1.0       CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

This research work deals with tense errors in English essays of Secondary School. The research is to find out the type of tense errors committed by the students who have sat for their J.S.S.C.E examination.

1.2       Statement of Problem

It has been discovered that second language learners of English face some difficulties while learning the language. This is because most second language learners find it difficult to speak or write good English.With the above in mind, this research work focuses on Tense Errors in English Essays of Secondary Schools Students This is to find out the tense errors the students make, the causes and possible suggestion of how to reduce the problems.

The work addresses the following questions:

1. What are the errors students made?
2. What are the types of errors?
3. What are the causes of the errors?
4. What are the possible solutions to these errors?

1.3       Aim and Objectives

The aim of this research is to study Tense Errors in English Essays of Secondary Schools Students

The specific objectives are;

1. To identify the errors in the essays of the students.
2. To classify the errors identified into types
3. To find out and explain the possible causes of the errors.
4. To provide solutions to the causes of the errors.

1.4       Significance of the Study

The falling standard of education generally could be attributed to poor comprehension of the English language lessons by students.This is due to the fact that, English language serves as a bed rock for understanding other disciplines of learning S.S.C.E holders cannot fully communicate in the national language (English) and it is on this basis that this work focuses on the tenses in the students written essays.

1.5       Scope and Delimitation

This study is limited to the analysis of thirty scripts of S.S II Students of Maimuna Gwarzo in Kaduna South local government. The research is limited to found out tense errors made by students in the schools so as to provide the lasting solutions to aid teachers and students on how to guard against such problems.

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TENSE ERRORS IN ENGLISH ESSAYS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS