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.
1.6 Justification
of the Study
This
study is important as, it attempts to highlight the major tense errors
committed by the students in their speaking and writing, and to provide the
lasting solution on how to correct the errors.
1.7 Methodology
This
section deals with how data is collected for the research work. The study
covers the use of tense errors in English essays of secondary school students of
some selected secondary schools in Kaduna South Local Government. The data for
this work is the essay papers of thirty students of the schools.