Investigating the Difficulties Faced by EFL Learners in Using Nonfinite Verbs

Abstract

  This study is mainly concerned with English nonfinite verbs as one of the common and essential process in the grammar of English on the one hand, and as a problematic area for English foreign language learners on the other hand. Nonfinite verb is any of several verb forms that are not finite verbs; that is, they cannot be as the root of an independent clause. Nonfinite verb forms stated in English are generally infinitives, -ing participles and -ed participles. This study aims at (1) Presenting a material about nonfinite verbs which can be of help to distinguish those types of verbs; (2) Investigating the ability of Iraqi EFL Learners to use nonfinite verbs at the recognition and the production levels and (3) Discovering the types and causes of errors which Iraqi EFL university learners commit in the use of nonfinite verbs. To achieve the aims stated above, the study hypothesizes that Iraqi EFL learners encounter difficulties in using nonfinite verbs due to various factors such as overgeneralization and Interlingual transfer © 2018 JTUH, College of Education for Human Sciences, Tikrit University