The analysis of concord errors in the writing of students of Tumu senior high technical school

Abstract

This is a qualitative study that analysed common concord errors in the written tests of Tumu Senior High Technical School. The data used for the analysis comprised students’ written tests. From this, a total of 7156 concord errors were identified. Seven concord error types were identified and they include subject-verb concord errors, concord with indefinite expressions of amounts, determinant-noun concord errors, noun-pronoun concord errors, verb-tense concord errors, inverted subject-verb concord errors and coordinated subject-verb concord errors. From this, concord with indefinite expressions of amounts had the highest frequency with errors on determinant-noun concord errors and noun-pronoun concord errors being the lowest. Based on the findings of the study, causes of errors in learners’ tests were identified as overgeneralization of concepts and rules, communal pull causes, influence of computer/technology, intralingual as well as L1 interference. Some suggestions are made to various stakeholders to ensure effective teaching and learning of the English Language in second-cycle schools.